Medicare Compliance & Reimbursement

AMA has released Category III codes, and more carotid catheterization codes are coming.

The clock is ticking toward the release of new CPT codes for 2005. Some details are already out, and the American Medical Association has released the temporary Category III codes, also effective Jan. 1.

These temporary codes include: Transcatheter placement of extracranial vertebral or intrathoracic carotid artery stent(s), including radiologic supervision and interpretation, percutaneous; initial vessel (0075T) and each additional vessel (0076T). These codes replace transcatheter extracranial placement codes 0005T-0007T, which allowed providers to specify with or without radiological supervision and interpretation. The new codes appear to include S&I automatically, experts say. They expect the AMA to release new Category I codes for carotid stenting soon, which could change how providers will use 0075T and 0076T. Implanting and securing cerebral thermal perfusion probe, including twist drill or burr hole, to measure absolute cerebral tissue perfusion (0077T). Endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, pseudoaneurysm or dissection, abdominal aorta involving visceral vessels (superior mesenteric, celiac or renal); using fenestrated modular bifurcated prosthesis (two docking limbs) (0078T). Or with radiological supervision and interpretation (0080T).

Placement of visceral extension prosthesis for endovascular repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm involving visceral vessels, each visceral branch (0079T), or with radiological S&I (0081T). Stereotactic body radiation therapy, treatment delivery, one or more treatment areas, per day (0082T) or treatment management, per day (0083T). You can't report this code with 77401-77416 or 77418. The new code covers radiotherapy from the neck down, including liver, kidney, pancreas, lung or prostate radiotherapy. It allows five or six treatments for a prostate instead of thirty or forty treatments using other techniques. Insertion of a temporary prostatic urethral stent (0084T). Breath test for heart transplant rejection (0085T). Left ventricular filling pressure indirect measurement by computerized calibration of the arterial waveform response to Valsalva maneuver (0086T). 
  Submucosal radiofrequency tissue volume reduction of tongue base, one or more sites, per session (i.e., for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome) (0088T).