Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

Plus: New Category II code also changes the way you report cataract pre-op visit.

CPT 2009 doesn't leave anesthesiologists in the dark -- and two new codes could help streamline your reporting processes.

The following new codes will apply to your anesthesia services effective Jan. 1, 2009:

• 00211 -- Anesthesia for intracranial procedures; craniotomy or craniectomy for evacuation of hematoma
• 00567 -- Anesthesia for direct coronary artery bypass grafting; with pump oxygenator 

In addition, CPT 2009 changes the descriptor for 00566. It now reads, "Anesthesia for direct coronary artery bypass grafting; without pump oxygenator."

"Prior to the addition of 00567, there wasn't a fully descriptive method of reporting the CABG procedure performed with pump oxgenator, says Kelly Dennis, MBA, CPC, ACS-AP of Perfect Office Solutions, Inc. in Leesburg, Fla.

Bonus: "There was also a change added to the new RVG for the base value of cataracts, which brings the base to Medicare's fee schedule for base values (4 base units)," Dennis explains. This recommended base decrease could impact charges and payments for practices with a large percentage Medicare Secondary Payer or commercial insurance, Dennis says. 

New Category II code debuts: CPT 2009 also introduces 0014F (Comprehensive preoperative assessment performed for cataract surgery with intraocular lens [IOL] placement...)

Although Medicare does not reimburse you for Category II codes, analysts recommend that some physician specialties report them because using these codes may decrease the need for typical record abstractions and chart review -- "which can minimize administrative burdens on physicians," says Jay Neal, an Atlanta-based coding consultant.