AMA CPT® Assistant - 1996 Issue 11 (November)
Review of the 1997 CPT Coding Changes (November 1996)
November 1996 pages 1-10 Review of the 1997 CPT Coding Changes It is hard to believe, but another year is quickly coming to a close. As always, the month of November means changing seasons, Thanksgiving, holiday shopping, football, and let us not forget, the new CPT coding changes. To help you adjust to these changes, we now provide you with a complete review of the 1997 CPT changes and a brief rationale for each change. After you finish reading this issue and reviewing the enclosed bonus table, you should be ready to tackle the new book. We identify revised...
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Article Overview
This article summarizes the 1997 CPT coding changes published in November 1996 and explains the scope of revisions across evaluation and management, surgery, radiology, pathology and laboratory, medicine, and other CPT sections. It is intended for coders, billing staff, and clinicians who need to understand which portions of the code set were updated, reorganized, added, or deleted for the new code year, along with related guideline and modifier updates.
Why This Topic Matters
Understanding annual CPT changes is essential for accurate reporting, correct code selection, and avoiding denials when codes, section headings, cross-references, or reporting instructions change from one year to the next.
Article Sections
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November 1996 pages 1-10
Introductory material and the article’s framing for the 1997 CPT update review.
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Evaluation and Management
Revisions to E/M guidance and related additions within nursing facility evaluation and management content.
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Surgery
Multiple surgical guideline updates and code changes across several anatomical subsections, including new, revised, and deleted services.
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Respiratory System
A new respiratory procedure code and related cross-reference guidance.
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Cardiovascular System
Updates to pacemaker-related services, transcatheter procedures, intravascular ultrasound, and other cardiovascular reporting changes.
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Hemic and Lymphatic Systems
A corrected cross-reference within the hemic and lymphatic guidelines.
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Digestive System
New and revised digestive system codes involving free tissue transfer and related cross-references.
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Urinary System
Updates to urinary tract procedures, including cystourethroscopy-related guidance and code revisions.
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Laparoscopy/Hysteroscopy
Terminology revisions, deleted codes, and updated laparoscopy and hysteroscopy reporting guidance.
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Female Genital System
A revised gynecologic support-device code and related descriptor clarification.
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Maternity Care and Delivery
Heading changes and new obstetric procedures added under maternity care and delivery guidance.
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Nervous System
Skull base surgery, radiosurgery, spinal reconstruction, and other nervous system code updates.
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Eye and Ocular Adnexa
Lacrimal procedure code replacements and bilateral-reporting guidance.
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Auditory System
An updated labyrinth procedure code and revised treatment notes.
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Radiology
Radiologic supervision and interpretation updates for intravascular ultrasound procedures.
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Nuclear Medicine
Editorial revisions to vascular flow, myocardial perfusion, and cardiac blood pool imaging codes.
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Pathology and Laboratory
Guideline language changes and additions in chemistry, molecular diagnostics, transfusion medicine, and microbiology.
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Medicine
New and revised medicine-section services including psychiatric therapy, biofeedback, ophthalmic imaging, posturography, cardiography, echocardiography, electrophysiology, and chemotherapy administration guidance.
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Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Replacement codes and reporting guidance for orthotics fitting, prosthetic training, and related rehabilitation services.
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Chiropractic Manipulative Treatment
New chiropractic manipulative treatment codes and explanatory notes covering spinal and extraspinal regions.
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Modifiers
Revisions and additions to modifier guidance, including reporting circumstances for multiple procedures, discontinued procedures, and distinct procedural services.
What You Will Learn
- Which CPT sections were updated for 1997
- How annual CPT revisions are presented in the article
- Which areas of CPT received new, revised, or deleted entries
- What kinds of guideline and cross-reference changes were introduced
- Which modifier policies were clarified or added
- How the article organizes changes by specialty and code family
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Coding auditors
- Billing specialists
- Physician practices
- Compliance staff
- Health information management professionals
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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