Five Changes in CPT® Coding to Know Before 2021

Why This Topic Matters

The article explains changes that affect how common office and outpatient visits are documented and coded, which is important for compliance, workflow, and revenue integrity.

Article Sections

1. How the CPT® Changes Aim for Quicker, Clearer Medical Coding

   Introduces the main areas of change affecting office and outpatient evaluation and management coding. The section previews the documentation and code-selection topics discussed throughout the article.

2. Provide New Choice in Determining Overall Level of Service

   Describes the updated framework for determining visit level for office and outpatient services. It explains that the article discusses revised selection options tied to evaluation and management documentation.

3. Clarify the Nature of Medical Decision-Making

   Covers the article’s discussion of revised medical decision-making concepts and terminology. It also notes the article’s emphasis on expanded guidance related to documenting complexity in visit coding.

4. Redefine Time Spent Providing Services

   Summarizes the article’s discussion of time-based selection for office and outpatient visits. The section addresses the broader shift in how time is defined and documented for these services.

5. Reorganize the CPT® Coding Manual

   Notes the article’s discussion of how the CPT® manual is being structured to reflect the new office and outpatient visit guidance. This section focuses on organization rather than clinical content.

6. Eliminate Code 99201

   Mentions the article’s discussion of a deleted office and outpatient evaluation and management code. The section situates that change within the broader 2021 update.