CPT 2019 update brings new codes for care coordination services, psychological assessments

The American Medical Association (AMA) recently released the 2019 CPT Manual with 335 code changes, primarily adding care coordination services, central nervous system assessments, skin biopsies, and fine needle aspirations.

Three new 2019 codes allow coders to specify physician interactions with patients via remote communication technology, according to the AMA. The manual also includes two interprofessional internet consultation codes to reflect increased non-verbal communication between consulting and treating physicians, according to the press release.

The update also includes more specific codes for psychological and neuropsychological testing. Four subsections were added (i.e., automated testing result, neurobehavioral status examinations, test administration and scoring, and testing evaluations services) with new and revised codes for central nervous system assessments.

Additional CPT changes for 2019 include several code additions for fine needle aspirations, which specify the type of imaging guidance used, and skin biopsies, which specify the type of skin biopsy technique used. All of the codes will be active January 1, 2019.