Sign of the changing times: CPT 1999.
Although CPT 1999 contains fewer changes than in past years, coders should take some time to learn them by: familiarizing themselves with the new symbols + and [symbol: see text] reviewing Appendix A for a complete list of modifiers as well as modifiers used in the ambulatory surgery center hospital outpatient setting; reviewing Appendix E for a complete list of add-on codes; reviewing Appendix F for a list of modifier-51-exempt codes; consulting the excludes note found above code 69,990 to identify procedures exempt from the use of the new operating microscope code; examining the specific codes used to identify bronchoscopic procedures; reviewing the parenthetical notes found after code 15,001, directing the coder to also assign the appropriate code for lesion excision; reviewing the changes associated with the coding of destruction of lesions understanding the changes in immunization code assignment; consulting payers for specific reimbursement guidelines.
Mallett
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Cincinnati State Technical and Community College, OH, USA.
Smith
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GI
D000043:Abstracting and Indexing / Q000592:standards*; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000145:classification; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000145:classification; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000601:surgery; D004496:Education, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000145:classification; D008497:Medical Record Administrators; D008499:Medical Records / Q000145:classification*; D008853:Microscopy / Q000145:classification / Q000295:instrumentation; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000145:classification; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000145:classification; D014481:United States