dballard2004
True Blue
In 2012, the AMA issued the CPT Corrections Document that now clarifies the term "other qualified healthcare professional" that is used throughout the CPT manual. Per the CPT Corrections Document, which can be accessed here:http://www.ama-assn.org/resources/doc/cpt/cpt-corrections.pdf, "other qualified healthcare professional" is now defined as a healthcare professional whose education, state laws, licensure, etc., allows him/her to perform services and who can independently report the service. Clinical staff are excluded from this because they have to work under the supervison of a physician and can't independently report their services.
Now, here is my question.....when I read the description of codes 98966-98968 for telephone services by nonphysicians, it clearly states "qualified health care professional." If I am intrepreting the AMA defintion correctly, this means that the nursing staff can't report these codes since clinical staff are not considered "other quaified healthcare professionals."
Am I off base here? Is this how others are intrepreting this as well? If I am correct, then this guidance would also apply to codes 98960-98962 for education and training for patient self-management since the description of these codes state "other qualified nonphysician health care professional."
Thoughts?
Now, here is my question.....when I read the description of codes 98966-98968 for telephone services by nonphysicians, it clearly states "qualified health care professional." If I am intrepreting the AMA defintion correctly, this means that the nursing staff can't report these codes since clinical staff are not considered "other quaified healthcare professionals."
Am I off base here? Is this how others are intrepreting this as well? If I am correct, then this guidance would also apply to codes 98960-98962 for education and training for patient self-management since the description of these codes state "other qualified nonphysician health care professional."
Thoughts?