Frequently Asked Questions (November 2020)

Why This Topic Matters

The page highlights how current coding guidance may affect service reporting across multiple specialties and code families. It is useful for professionals reviewing whether their documentation and billing practices align with the topics discussed in CPT Assistant.

Article Sections

1. Evaluation and Management: Office or Other Outpatient Services

   Questions and answers about office and outpatient evaluation and management coding for 2021. The section focuses on medical decision-making concepts and a specific established-patient visit code.

2. Evaluation and Management: Prolonged Services

   Guidance on prolonged services performed by clinical staff under physician supervision in the office or outpatient setting. The section addresses when a reporting mechanism is available and discusses timing concepts.

3. Surgery: Integumentary System

   A question-and-answer discussion involving breast surgery and related lymph node removal in the integumentary system. The section addresses reporting considerations tied to the operative scenario.

4. Surgery: Digestive System

   A brief discussion of a digestive system surgery question involving laryngectomy-related work and whether a related procedure is separately reported. The section explains the broader surgical context covered in the FAQ.

5. Medicine: Cardiovascular

   Questions about electrophysiology and atrial fibrillation ablation in the cardiovascular medicine section. The discussion covers reporting circumstances for ablation services and related procedural context.

6. Medicine: Neurology and Neuromuscular Procedures

   A neurology and neuromuscular procedures question about electromyography performed with nerve conduction studies. The section explains how the FAQ frames the testing scenario.

7. Medicine: Moderate (Conscious) Sedation

   Guidance on moderate sedation coding in a procedural setting, including circumstances involving airway management and patient responsiveness. The section addresses when the topic may be applicable.

8. Category III Codes

   A question-and-answer section about a Category III coding term used in the context of ophthalmic device insertion. The section covers terminology and the related procedure category.