Wiki 99401 time based?

[kathleenl]

Good morning,

I need clarification regarding whether or not the Preventive medicine counseling codes, 99401-94004, are time based. The word "approximately" is what is making me think they are not because I think of the word, "approximate" like the word "typically" used for E/M codes when referring to time, and the E/M are not necessarily time-based.

Any help and or guidance is appreciated.

Thanks!
Kathleen

 

[CodingKing]

The times listed in E&M are really there for the time spent doing counseling and care coordination to meet the 50% rule which overrides the levels specified in the code description(History, Exam and MDM) The preventive medicine codes are time specific since only difference between each code is the minutes.

 

[kathleenl]

Thanks!