AMA CPT® Assistant - 2000 Issue 5 (May)
Modifier Update-New and Revised Modifiers for Outpatient Use (May 2000)
May 2000 pages 1-3 Modifier Update-New and Revised Modifiers for Outpatient Use The use of CPT codes for outpatient hospital reporting to Medicare requires a variation in the use of certain CPT coding conventions, including modifiers. Prior to October 1, 1997, CPT modifiers were not used for hospital outpatient reporting to the Medicare program. Based on approval by the National Uniform Billing Committee, HCFA has since instructed its Medicare fiscal intermediaries to accept certain approved Level I (CPT) and Level II (HCPCS) modifiers applicable to outpatient hospital reporting. CPT 1999 included both CPT Level I and HCPCS Level II...
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Article Overview
This CPT Assistant article explains outpatient hospital reporting updates tied to Medicare and the OPPS era, focusing on newly introduced, deleted, and revised modifiers and the broader modifier lists approved for hospital outpatient use. It is useful for coders, billing staff, outpatient hospital departments, ambulatory surgery centers, and compliance teams that need to understand which modifier topics were updated and how the article frames those changes at a high level.
Why This Topic Matters
The article captures a transitional period in outpatient reporting when modifier policies were being aligned for hospital outpatient and Medicare use. It matters because it summarizes the scope of revised modifier guidance and identifies the code sets and modifier groups affected by the update.
Article Sections
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May 2000 pages 1-3
Introduces the outpatient reporting context and the overall purpose of the modifier update. It also frames the timing of policy changes affecting hospital outpatient and related Medicare reporting.
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Modifier changes and approved outpatient modifiers
Summarizes newly created, deleted, and revised modifiers associated with outpatient use. It also presents the general groupings of CPT and HCPCS modifiers approved for hospital outpatient reporting.
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Modifier revisions
Reviews later editorial and descriptor revisions to selected modifiers and explains that several modifier entries were clarified. The section also notes related references to alternate reporting identifiers and linked code-set updates.
What You Will Learn
- How outpatient hospital modifier policy was updated for Medicare-related reporting
- Which broad modifier groups were approved for hospital outpatient use
- Which modifier entries were newly created, deleted, or revised
- How the article characterizes the outpatient reporting context for CPT and HCPCS modifiers
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Hospital outpatient billing staff
- Ambulatory surgery center staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Compliance auditors
- Coding educators
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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