In total, the AMA added 60 new codes throughout the surgery section of the 2012 CPT® Manual, 18 of which appear in the cardiovascular and respiratory system subsections. The AMA also revised 86 codes and deleted 48 codes in the surgery section.
Our coding experts answer your questions about determining ED visit level, coding open reduction and internal fixation of a radius fracture, and coding image-guided minimally invasive lumbar decompression.
Fortunately for providers, CMS decided not to cap outpatient payment rates for cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) procedures at the standardized inpatient rate. The agency announced its decision as part of the CY 2012 OPPS final rule released November 1, 2011.
