Reimbursement for E/Ms and modifier 51 loom large in CPT update

Why This Topic Matters

The article helps readers understand which areas of CPT changed most in 2008 and why some updates affect reporting, bundling, and coverage. It is especially useful for organizations preparing training, system updates, and reimbursement workflows around broad CPT revisions.

Article Sections

1. Overview of CPT 2008 changes

   Introduces the scope of the 2008 CPT update and summarizes the main categories of change discussed at the symposium. It highlights broad themes affecting multiple sections of the manual and reimbursement outlook.

2. Evaluation and Management (codes 99201-99499)

   Covers major E/M updates, including new service categories, revised reporting structure, and related Medicare payment context. The section also addresses several non-face-to-face services and team-based care updates.

3. Anesthesia (codes 00100-01999)

   Summarizes anesthesia section additions, deletions, and a descriptor revision related to spine procedures. It gives a high-level view of anesthesia-specific CPT changes.

4. Integumentary (codes 10021-19499)

   Reviews selected revisions in the skin and soft tissue section, including mesh-related and lesion-related updates. It also notes guidance affecting related procedure reporting.

5. Musculoskeletal (codes 20000-29999)

   Covers extensive musculoskeletal code updates, including new, revised, deleted, and add-on codes across several procedure families. The section also notes changes tied to exemption status and procedure categorization.

6. Respiratory (codes 30000-32999)

   Describes renumbered respiratory procedures and related revisions in the section. It also notes changes in modifier-related status for selected codes.

7. Cardiovascular (codes 33010-37799)

   Summarizes cardiovascular additions and revisions, including new add-on codes and changes affecting several procedure families. The section also addresses updates to vascular and cardiac reporting structure.

8. Hemic/Lymphatic (codes 38100-38999)

   Notes the limited hemic and lymphatic changes for the year, with emphasis on a revised code in this section. It provides a brief status update for this body system.

9. Mediastinum/Diaphragm (codes 39000-39599)

   Indicates that no changes were made in this section for CPT 2008. It serves as a status check for the relevant code range.

10. Digestive (codes 40490-49999)

    Summarizes digestive system additions, deletions, and revisions, including procedure families that were updated or renumbered. The section also notes changes to implant and repair-related reporting.

11. Urinary (codes 50010-53899)

    Covers urinary system changes such as new procedure codes, renumbered codes, and an add-on code revision. It also includes updates affecting prostate-related reporting.

12. Male genital (codes 54000-55899)

    Indicates that no changes were made in this section for CPT 2008. It functions as a brief status note for the code range.

13. Reproductive system procedures (code 55920)

    Describes the addition of a new procedure code in the reproductive system section. It places the change in the context of organ-specific procedural coding.

14. Intersex surgery (codes 55970-55980)

    Indicates that there were no changes in this section for the year reviewed. It provides a simple update on the code family.

15. Female genital and Maternity/delivery (codes 56405-59899)

    Reviews selected gynecologic and maternity-related additions and revisions, including procedure approach differences. It also notes a descriptor clarification affecting an existing code.

16. Endocrine (codes 60000-60699)

    Summarizes a simple endocrine section update involving deletion and renumbering. It provides a concise overview of the year’s change in this range.

17. Nervous (codes 61000-64999)

    Covers revised nervous system codes and a formatting change affecting a code family. The section is a brief update on selected neurology-related CPT revisions.

18. Eye and Ocular adnexa (codes 65091-68899)

    Summarizes ophthalmology updates, including new, deleted, and revised eye procedure codes. It also notes changes affecting retinal procedures and terminology cleanup.

19. Auditory (codes 69000-69990)

    Indicates that no auditory section changes were made in CPT 2008. It is a short status update for the code range.

20. Radiology (codes 70010-79999)

    Covers radiology revisions across angiography, cardiac imaging, nuclear medicine, and other imaging families. The section also summarizes deletions and code restructuring in this portion of CPT.

21. Pathology/Laboratory (codes 80048-89356)

    Reviews selected pathology and laboratory updates, including panel revisions and test classification changes. It highlights both new and revised laboratory reporting areas.

22. Medicine (codes 90281-99602)

    Summarizes many medicine-section changes, including immunology, infusion, testing, pharmacy, and therapy management updates. The section also emphasizes broad modifier-related revisions in this portion of CPT.

23. Category III (codes 0016T-0187T)

    Notes the status of temporary emerging-technology codes for the year and mentions pre-released entries. It provides a closing summary of Category III changes.