AMA Clinical Examples in Radiology - 2020 Bulletin 1
CPT® 2021: Anticipated Code Changes
CPT® 2021: Anticipated Code Changes Numerous new radiology codes and guideline revisions will be implemented beginning January 1, 2021. As in past years, many of the new codes have been created as a result of bundling mandates from the American Medical Association's (AMA) Relativity Assessment Workgroup (RAW) when it identifies potentially misvalued services. RAW requires specific codes to be referred to the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Editorial Panel for evaluation, which often results in the bundling of codes that are often found to be reported together. For the CPT 2021 code set, this includes percutaneous core needle lung...
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Article Overview
This article summarizes expected CPT 2021 changes that affect multiple service areas, with emphasis on radiology, interventional radiology, medical physics, Category III additions, and office or other outpatient E/M revisions. It is useful for coders, billers, radiology practices, and compliance teams who need a high-level view of upcoming code set updates, editorial revisions, and guideline changes.
Why This Topic Matters
The article helps coding professionals prepare for a new code year by identifying where code set revisions, deletions, additions, and guideline updates are expected to occur. It is especially relevant for organizations that report imaging, procedural, and office visit services and need to track how upcoming CPT updates may affect documentation and workflow review.
Article Sections
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Diagnostic Radiology: Screening CT of Thorax
Covers anticipated CPT and HCPCS-related updates for thorax CT screening and related editorial revisions within diagnostic radiology.
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Diagnostic Radiology: Urography
Summarizes planned editorial clarification for urography reporting and related parenthetical note updates.
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Diagnostic Radiology: Fluoroscopic Guidance
Discusses planned inclusionary note changes affecting fluoroscopic guidance references in the radiology section.
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Diagnostic Radiology: Ultrasound Follow-Up Study
Notes an anticipated deletion review for an ultrasound follow-up study code based on utilization concerns.
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Interventional Radiology: Percutaneous Core Needle Lung Biopsy
Addresses planned bundling-related changes for a lung biopsy procedure and associated imaging guidance.
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Medical Physics: Medical Physics Dose Evaluation
Introduces a forthcoming technical component service related to radiation dose assessment and follow-up considerations.
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Category III
Provides an overview of planned Category III additions, revisions, and deletions scheduled for the 2021 update cycle.
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Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) Ablation
Covers new Category III reporting for a cancer treatment procedure using electrical impulses.
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Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (MRS)
Summarizes new Category III reporting related to spectroscopy for spine pain localization.
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E/M: Office or Other Outpatient Services
Explains broad planned revisions to office and outpatient evaluation and management coding, including changes to descriptors and guidelines.
What You Will Learn
- Which major CPT 2021 code areas are changing
- Which radiology and interventional radiology topics are affected
- Which portions of the code set include planned additions, deletions, or editorial revisions
- How Category III updates are organized in the article
- What broad areas of E/M guidance are being revised for the upcoming code year
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding educators
- Radiology billing staff
- Compliance teams
- Physician practice administrators
- Revenue cycle professionals
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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