Part B Coding Coach: CPT Puts Time on Coder's Side in 2008

Why This Topic Matters

The article highlights coding updates that may affect documentation, reporting workflows, and reimbursement in common outpatient and facility-based scenarios. It also notes where payor adoption and documentation practices may influence whether the revised CPT guidance can be used successfully.

Article Sections

1. Phone E/M Codes a Boon--If Payors Accept Them

   This section discusses new time-based telephone E/M reporting changes in CPT 2008 and the broader payor and Medicare adoption issues associated with them.

2. Consider Specific Codes for Smoking Cessation

   This section covers the introduction of dedicated tobacco cessation counseling codes and their relationship to other counseling categories in CPT.

3. CPT Scraps Old 99305-99318 Definitions

   This section describes revisions to nursing facility care descriptors in CPT 2008 and the shift toward including typical visit time information.

4. Check Descriptor's Last Sentence for Time Guideline

   This section focuses on the updated nursing facility code descriptors and how time guidance affects reporting and documentation expectations.

5. Code Based on Time for Some Counseling-Heavy Visits

   This section explains a nursing facility counseling-heavy visit scenario and discusses documentation elements associated with time-based reporting.