General Surgery Coding Alert

Of the five remaining new E/M codes in CPT 2008, two (99406 and 99407) will deal with counseling patients on how to quit smoking, and two others (99408 and 99409) will describe alcohol and/or substance (other than tobacco) abuse structured screenings and interventions. General surgery practices likely won't find much use for these codes.

The final new E/M code in CPT 2008, 99477 (Initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of the neonate, 28 days of age or less, who requires intensive observation, frequent interventions, and other intensive care services), describes services less intensive than those described by neonatal critical care code 99295 (Initial inpatient neonatal critical care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a critically ill neonate, 28 days of age or less) but presumably more intensive than those services included in a standard initial inpatient care code (99221-99223).

The AMA will likely provide more information on the exact circumstances under which you should apply 99477 when it officially unveils CPT 2008 and the accompanying CPT 2008 Changes. General Surgery Coding Alert will bring you the full details as they become available.