Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Published on Mon Jan 10, 2011 PDF

Plus: You can now register for the EHR incentive program.

The ink is just barely dry on CPT 2011, but the AMA has already announced some items in the manual that require your attention.

The AMA released its list of CPT Errata, so get out your red pen and make changes to ensure that your book is completely up to date.

For example: CPT contradicted itself in a note under code 47490 (Cholecystostomy, percutaneous, complete procedure...) by first saying that you should not report 47490 with 75989, and then immediately thereafter, printing the line, "for radiological supervision and interpretation, use 75989." To correct this inaccuracy, delete the information directing you to report 75989 for radiological supervision. That sentence was printed erroneously in CPT 2011.

Also: CPT erred in saying that cardiovascular monitoring services such as mobile cardiac telemetry monitors (93228-93229) "do not require attended surveillance." Instead, the AMA meant to say that these services require attended surveillance, so you should strike the words "do not" from this sentence in CPT.

To read the complete listing of CPT 2011 errata, visit www.ama-assn.org/ama1/pub/upload/mm/362/cpt-2011-corrections.pdf.