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Looking Ahead in
2008
January 4, 2008 –
CPT Code Changes, Pain code modifiers changes and Medicare Conditions of Participation
updates are a few of the things Anesthesiologists and practice managers can look
forward to in 2008. Here's a brief summary:
CPT Code
Changes
The 2008 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) for Anesthesia includes
two new and one deleted code. Code 01905 (anesthesia for myelography,
discography, vertebroplasty) has been replaced by two new codes: 01935
(anesthesia for percutaneous image guided procedures on the spine and
spinal cord; diagnostic) - five base units; and 01936 (anesthesia for
percutaneous image guided procedures on the spine and spinal cord;
therapeutic) - five base units. The American Society of Anesthesiologits
(ASA) recommends using 01935 to describe anesthesia for myelography and
discograpy and 01936 to describe anesthesia for vertebroplasty,
kyphoplasty and chemonucleolysis.
Pain code modifiers have been updated for
2008. The definition for modifier 22 is now "increased procedures services." CPT
notes that when using this modifier, physicians should have documentation that
not only describes the additional work, but also explains why it was necessary.
In addition, for 2008, modifiers 22 and 59 may not be used to append an
evaluation and management service.
CoP Final
Rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized changes
to Medicare's Anesthesia Conditions of Paricipation (CoP), which are
standards hospitals must meet in order to participate in and receive
payments from Medicare or Medicaid programs. In the text published by
the Final Rule and effective on January 1, 2008, Section 482.52(b) (1)
has been revised as follows: "A preanesthesia evaluation completed and
documented by an individual qualified to administer anesthesia, as
specified in paragraph (a) of this section, performed within 48 hours
prior to surgery or a procedure requiring anesthesia services." Section
482.52(b) (3) has been revised as follows: "A postanesthesia evaluation
completed and documented by an individual qualified to administer
anesthesia, as specified by paragraph (a) of this section, no later than
48 hours after surgery or a procedure requiring anesthesia services. The
postanesthesia evaluation for anesthesia recovery must be completed in
accordance with State law and with hospital policies and procedures that
have been approved by the medical staff and that reflect current
standards of anesthesia care." Section 482.52(b) (4) has been deleted.
The CoP defines an individual qualified
to administer anesthesia as: an anesthesiologist; a doctor of medicine or
osteopathy; a dentist, oral surgeon or podiatrist who is qualified to administer
anesthesia under State law; a certified nurse anesthetist; an anesthesiologist's
assistant under the supervision of an anesthesiologist.
Be sure to bookmark
www.southoakland.com and return to the
site often for updates regarding this and other important anesthesia issues.
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