Revenue Cycle Insider

Question: I remember a reader question in RCI recently that referenced Category III codes, also known as T codes. That reminded me that T codes are often added to CPT^® during the year, meaning that they aren’t published in CPT^® 2025. Are there any T codes that aren’t listed in CPT^® 2025 that we should have on our radar?

Maryland Subscriber

Answer: Yes, there are several T codes about to go live that are relevant to neurosurgery. You’ve got time to get a handle on them, however.

Why? Though the AMA announced the codes previously, there is an implementation period that lasts until July 1.  

“The following Category III codes, guidelines, and parenthetical notes were accepted and/or revised at the September 2024 CPT^® Editorial Panel meeting for the 2026 CPT^® production cycle,” the AMA reports. “However, due to Category III code’s early-release policy, these codes are effective on July 1, 2025, following the six-month implementation period, which begins January 1, 2025.”

Here's a look at the T codes you should familiarize yourself with before July 1:

• 0956T (Partial craniectomy, channel creation, and tunneling of electrode for sub-scalp implantation of an electrode array, receiver, and telemetry unit for continuous bilateral electroencephalography monitoring system, including imaging guidance)
• 0957T (Revision of sub-scalp implanted electrode array, receiver, and telemetry unit for electrode, when required, including imaging guidance)
• 0958T (Removal of sub-scalp implanted electrode array, receiver, and telemetry unit for continuous bilateral electroencephalography monitoring system, including imaging guidance)
• 0959T (Removal or replacement of magnet from coil assembly that is connected to continuous bilateral electroencephalography monitoring system, including imaging guidance)
• 0960T (Replacement of sub-scalp implanted electrode array, receiver, and telemetry unit with tunneling of electrode for continuous bilateral electroencephalography monitoring system, including imaging guidance)
• 0968T (Insertion or replacement of epicranial neurostimulator system, including electrode array and pulse generator, with connection to electrode array)
• 0969T (Removal of epicranial neurostimulator system)
• 0984T (Intravascular imaging of extracranial cerebral vessels using optical coherence tomography (OCT) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including all associated radiological supervision, interpretation, and report; initial vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))
• 0985T (Intravascular imaging of extracranial cerebral vessels using optical coherence tomography (OCT) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including all associated radiological supervision, interpretation, and report; each additional vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))
• 0986T (Intravascular imaging of intracranial cerebral vessels using optical coherence tomography (OCT) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including all associated radiological supervision, interpretation, and report; initial vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))
• 0987T (Intravascular imaging of intracranial cerebral vessels using optical coherence tomography (OCT) during diagnostic evaluation and/or therapeutic intervention, including all associated radiological supervision, interpretation, and report; each additional vessel (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure))

Category III reminder: The AMA reminds coders that “ CPT^® Category III codes are a set of temporary codes that allow data collection for emerging technologies, services, procedures, and service paradigms.”

Chris Boucher, MS, CPC, Senior Development Editor, AAPC