AMA CPT® Assistant - 2017 Issue 6 (June)
Important Moderate (Conscious) Sedation Updates [(Q&A)] (June 2017)
June 2017 pages 3-5 Important Moderate (Conscious) Sedation Updates This article discusses the important changes made to the reporting of moderate (conscious) sedation services (hereinafter, termed moderate sedation) in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 2017 code set. In 2014, the American Medical Association (AMA) CPT Editorial Panel and the AMA/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee (RUC) convened a joint workgroup to discuss correct reporting of moderate sedation services. This workgroup was formed after Medicare claims data showed that anesthesia services were being reported for codes that included moderate sedation as inherent to the work of the physician...
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This CPT® Assistant article explains the 2017 updates to moderate sedation reporting in CPT and discusses the broader guidance surrounding the revised moderate sedation code set. It is intended for coders, billers, and clinical documentation staff who need to understand the scope of the changes, the organization’s rationale for the update, and the general reporting concepts covered in the article.
Why This Topic Matters
Moderate sedation reporting changed significantly in 2017, so accurate understanding of the update affects code selection, compliance, and consistency in reporting across procedures and specialties.
Article Sections
-
Important Moderate (Conscious) Sedation Updates
Overview of the CPT 2017 update to moderate sedation reporting and the reason the topic was addressed. Introduces the scope of the changes and the guidance discussed in the article.
-
Qualifying Circumstances for Anesthesia
Discusses deleted and replaced moderate sedation references within the CPT framework and directs readers to the revised moderate sedation code set.
-
How Is Moderate Sedation Different From Other Forms of Sedation/Analgesia?
Summarizes general distinctions among levels of sedation and the clinical context in which moderate sedation is used. Also notes related concepts and provider considerations.
-
How Is Moderate Sedation Time Measured?
Explains the timing framework used in the revised CPT moderate sedation guidance and the reporting structure for the updated code set. Includes the article’s general discussion of reporting categories.
-
Clinical Example (99151) / Description of Procedure (99151)
Presents an illustrative scenario and associated procedural narrative for one of the revised moderate sedation codes.
-
Clinical Example (99152) / Description of Procedure (99152)
Presents an illustrative scenario and associated procedural narrative for one of the revised moderate sedation codes.
-
Clinical Example (99155) / Description of Procedure (99155)
Presents an illustrative scenario and associated procedural narrative for one of the revised moderate sedation codes.
-
Clinical Example (99156) / Description of Procedure (99156)
Presents an illustrative scenario and associated procedural narrative for one of the revised moderate sedation codes.
-
Clinical Example (99157) / Description of Procedure (99157)
Presents an illustrative scenario and associated procedural narrative for one of the revised moderate sedation codes.
What You Will Learn
- The scope of the 2017 CPT update to moderate sedation reporting
- How the article frames the revised moderate sedation guidance
- The general concepts used to distinguish moderate sedation from other sedation levels
- How the article organizes the updated reporting categories
- What kinds of clinical examples and procedural narratives are included
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Compliance personnel
- Clinical documentation staff
- Physicians and qualified health care professionals involved in procedure reporting
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com
