Not sure if this ever got answered, but straight from the AMA website: Scroll down a little...code should be good until 1-1-13.
When are CPT codes implemented?[/B]
As the designated standard for the electronic reporting of physician and other health care professional services under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), CPT codes are updated annually and effective for use on January 1 of each year. The AMA prepares each annual update so that the new CPT books are available in the fall of each year preceding their effective date to allow for implementation.
Category I vaccine product codes, Molecular Pathology and Category III codes are typically "early released" for reporting either January 1st or July 1st of a given CPT cycle. In order to comply with HIPAA requirements, the effective dates for these codes have been altered to become effective six months subsequent to the date of release following code set updates. As a result, codes released on January 1st are effective July 1st, allowing 6 months for implementation, and codes released on July 1st are effective January 1st.
Category II codes are typically "early released" for reporting three times yearly (March 15th, July 15th, and November 15th) following approval of the Panel minutes after each Editorial Panel meeting. The effective dates for these codes have also been altered to become effective three months subsequent to the date of release following code set updates. For example, codes released on July 15th are effective October 15th, allowing 3 months for implementation.