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Pulmonology Coding Alert

E/M Coding Corner:

Get Set For These E/M Verbiage Adjustments Starting Jan 1. 2013

Published on Sun Oct 28, 2012

Changes to descriptor will help more qualified personnel report E/M services.Since your pulmonology practice uses evaluation and management (E/M) codes very regularly, you'll be pleased to know about CPT® 2013 descriptor changes to almost every code included in the E/M section that will enable you to lay claim to E/M services provided by your non-physician practitioners.We'll review the changes to both sections so you'll be ready as soon as Jan. 1, 2013 rolls around.Eliminate 'Physician' Limitations From Your E/M ThinkingWhereas most E/M codes previously referred to "physicians" and "providers" in their descriptors, which will change effective Jan.1 when the descriptors will instead say "qualified health care professionals."Using 99214 as an example, the code changes are indicated with the strikethroughs (indicating deleted text) and underlining (indicating new text) as follows: Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, which requires at least 2 of these 3 [...]
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