E/M Coding Alert - 2016 Issue 10
HCPCS Update: Rejoice Over New HCPCS Code for Abdominal Ultrasound
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Article Overview
This article explains a recent HCPCS update affecting hospital outpatient services under CMS payment policy. It covers a new radiology code and multiple new drug and biological supply codes, along with the broader outpatient payment context, pass-through status, and the need to review medical necessity policies and payer coverage. The content is aimed at coding, billing, and reimbursement professionals working with outpatient hospital and pharmacy services.
Why This Topic Matters
It helps readers understand which newly effective HCPCS items are part of the outpatient payment update and why hospitals and billing teams need to review coverage, payment status, and supporting policy requirements.
Article Sections
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Background
Introduces the outpatient payment update context and the general type of HCPCS additions included in the article.
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Abdominal Ultrasound Gets a New Code
Covers the radiology portion of the update and the related outpatient setting considerations for the new ultrasound code.
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Soak In the New Drug Supply Codes
Reviews the drug and biological supply code additions associated with the same outpatient payment cycle.
What You Will Learn
- How the HCPCS update is organized around outpatient payment changes
- Which broad categories of services and supplies are affected
- What kinds of payer and medical-necessity reviews are relevant to the update
- How the article frames the relationship between CMS payment status and outpatient reporting
Who Should Read This
- Hospital outpatient coders
- Billing and reimbursement staff
- Health information management professionals
- Pharmacy billing staff
- Revenue cycle teams
Codes Discussed
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