Internal Medicine Coding Alert
Where are RVUs?
Question: You have mentioned a book about RVUs in the past couple of newsletters. What is it, and where can I get a copy?
Delaware Subscriber
Answer: The abbreviation RVU stands for relative value unit, which is the value that Medicare assigns to a procedure code. The RVU for a procedure code, multiplied by the Medicare conversion factor ($38.2581 for 2001), results in the unadjusted payment amount for the procedure. Geographic adjustments are then made to arrive at a final payment.
The list of RVUs for CPT procedure codes is contained in the Medicare Physicians Fee Schedule Database, which is available online at www.hcfa.gov/stats/carrpuf.htm.
If you are a subscriber to the Federal Register, there is also a copy of the 2001 Physicians Fee Schedule in the Nov. 1, 2000, edition.
Internal Medicine Coding Alert
- New Codes for Physical Medicine, Revision to Dialysis Instructions Top CPT 2001 Changes
Codes for physical medicine therapeutic procedures and a visual acuity exam are among the new [...] - Medicare Revises Observation/ Inpatient Hospital Care Payment
Effective Jan. 1, 2001, Medicare will revise its payment policy for observation and inpatient hospital [...] - New Medicare Policy on Observation/Inpatient Hospital Care Codes
Observation Care Codes
Less than eight hours in observation, discharge on the same day:
New national [...] - CPT Definitions for Observation and Inpatient Hospital Care Codes
The CPT 2001 definitions for observation and inpatient hospital care codes are as follows:
99217 [...] - News Brief:
Additional 2001 Updates
CPT Redefines New Patient. To help distinguish between new and established patients, the latest edition [...] - You Be the Coder:
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Question: In our practice, we usually have a nurse administer the prothrombin time laboratory test [...] - Reader Question:
Where are RVUs?
Question: You have mentioned a book about RVUs in the past couple of newsletters. What [...] - Reader Question:
Office Visit With a Vaccination
Question: Can we bill an office visit in addition to the administration of vaccine? Or [...]
