CPT® 2012: Establish Whether A Patient is New With CPT®'s Latest E/M Tweaks

Why This Topic Matters

These CPT updates can affect how encounters are classified and how thoracoscopic procedures are reported, making it important for accurate claims processing, specialty-specific billing, and compliance with current coding guidance.

Article Sections

1. New and Established Patient clarification

   Discusses a CPT 2012 revision to the new versus established patient framework and its relevance to physician and group practice specialty distinctions. The section provides context for how the updated guidance affects office and outpatient E/M reporting.

2. CMS Offers Surprise 0-Day Global to New Thoracoscopy Codes

   Introduces newly added thoracoscopy-related procedures in the CPT 2012 changes and notes related global period commentary. The section also addresses the article’s cardiothoracic surgery context and broader postoperative reporting implications.