CPT® 2016: Rev Up Your General Surgery Coding for Next Year

Why This Topic Matters

Knowing which CPT changes are coming helps practices prepare their charge capture, education, and code set updates before the effective date. This is especially important when multiple related procedures are being revised or replaced at once.

Article Sections

1. Count Biopsies for Mediastinoscopy

   This section introduces a change affecting mediastinoscopy coding and explains that more specific options are available for 2016. It frames the update as part of the broader general surgery code revision cycle.

2. Check Out Biliary Coding Overhaul

   This section covers a major update for biliary-tree procedures, including deleted and newly added codes across related service categories. It presents the change as a significant restructuring within general surgery coding.

3. Differentiate Intracranial Thrombectomy

   This section reviews revisions to thrombectomy and infusion-related services and notes the introduction of new intracranial-focused codes. It also references related deletions and descriptor updates affecting vascular coding.

4. Acquaint Yourself With This New Abdominal Sclerotherapy Code

   This section introduces a new percutaneous sclerotherapy code for fluid collections in the abdomen and discusses the general clinical context for its use. It also summarizes the procedure at a high level as part of the 2016 update preview.