Gastroenterology Coding Alert

You will get some more $$$ on other E/Ms. It's true that Medicare neutralized its consult code sets for 2010, eliminating relative value units (RVUs) for 99241-99255. In the wake of wiping out consult codes, CMS will raise payment for the other E/M codes, confirms Quinten A. Buechner, M.S., M.Div., CPC, ACS-FP/GI/PEDS, PCS, CCP, PAHCS:CMSCS, president of ProActive Consultants in Cumberland, Wis. Impact: "Obviously, this will result in an income increase for primary care specialties, and a decrease for specialists who use consult codes," says Betsy Nicoletti, MA, CPC, president of Medical Practice Consulting in Springfield, Vt. RVU Rollout Sets6-Percent Push for OVs The 2010 Medicare fee schedule will increase relative value units (RVUs) for all E/M codes, including: • 99201-99215 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management ...) • 99221-99223 (Initial hospital care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires these [...]