CPT 2008: Tobacco Counseling, Phone E/Ms Getting Easier To Report

Why This Topic Matters

It helps readers determine whether the article covers CPT 2008 updates relevant to outpatient communication services, counseling services, and nursing facility E/M documentation. The piece is useful for those tracking new CPT categories, deleted codes, and time-based descriptor revisions.

Article Sections

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

   Discusses the 2008 CPT changes to telephone evaluation and management reporting and the surrounding payer-adoption considerations. It also notes general guidance issues related to phone-based services and timing.

2. Consider Specific Codes For Smoking Cessation

   Covers the addition of smoking and tobacco cessation counseling reporting options in CPT 2008. The section places these services in the context of other counseling categories and time-based reporting.

3. CPT Scraps Old 99305-99318 Definitions

   Summarizes the revised nursing facility care descriptors in CPT 2008 and the impact of adding typical timeframes to these visit types. It also addresses broader reporting implications for nursing facility services.

4. Check Descriptor's Last Sentence For Time Guideline

   Explains the importance of the time guidance added to nursing facility descriptors and how it relates to documentation expectations. This section continues the discussion of the revised nursing facility code family.

5. Code Based On Time For Some Counseling-Heavy Visits

   Presents a nursing facility counseling-focused example to illustrate the revised time-based reporting discussion. It emphasizes documentation and coordination-of-care themes within the nursing facility setting.