AMA CPT® Assistant - 2003 Issue 11 (November)
Where Have All the Stars Gone? (November 2003)
November 2003 page 13 Coding Commentary:Where Have All the Stars Gone? The starred procedure designation has been deleted for CPT 2004. CPT codes that previously included a star (*) in front of the code will no longer have that star beginning in 2004. This major revision was a recommendation by the CPT-5 Project's Project Advisory Group (PAG) to the CPT Editorial Panel. The decision to eliminate the starred procedure designation was a result of the various problems associated with the starred (*) procedure concept. These problems included the implied relationship with global surgical periods (ie, the Medicare 010 or...
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Article Overview
This CPT Assistant commentary discusses a notable CPT 2004 revision involving the deletion of the starred procedure designation and the resulting impact on reporting and documentation practices. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, and compliance professionals who need to understand the update in the CPT code set, related administrative reporting changes, and the role of associated modifiers and postoperative follow-up reporting. The article places the change in the context of CPT editorial policy and claims-processing consistency.
Why This Topic Matters
The article matters because it describes a CPT code set change that affects how certain procedures and evaluation and management services are reported. It also highlights related administrative updates that can affect coding workflow and claim consistency.
Article Sections
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November 2003 page 13
Editorial commentary on a CPT update and the policy reasons behind it. The section discusses how the change affects reporting concepts tied to surgery and evaluation and management services.
What You Will Learn
- Why a CPT 2004 editorial change was made
- How the article frames the impact on procedural reporting
- What general topics are addressed in relation to postoperative and evaluation and management reporting
- Which CPT administrative items were revised or deleted as part of the update
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing personnel
- Compliance staff
- Revenue cycle professionals
- Healthcare administrators
Codes Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
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