Pulmonology Coding Alert

Evaluation and Management coding get a fresh look too.You are just halfway through with 2012, but the CPT® Editorial Committee is already gearing up for the coming year with its new list of proposals for the year 2013. As a pulmonology coder, you will need to brace yourself for many changes, including thoracentesis, pleural drainage, vaccine and polysomnography codes in 2013.Reminder: Although the editorial committee has posted these changes, it is not essential that all these changes will be taken forward in CPT® 2013. As the editorial notes indicate, "Codes are not assigned, nor exact wording finalized, until just prior to publication."Watch out for New Codes to Thoracentesis and Pleural DrainageThe CPT® editorial committee has accepted the proposal for the establishment of four new codes for thoracentesis and pleural drainage (325X1-325X4). These codes are proposed to replace the existing code sets 32420 (Pneumocentesis, puncture of lung for aspiration), 32421 (Thoracentesis, [...]