CPT® 2014: Review Three Key Updates in the CPT® Manual Introduction

Why This Topic Matters

Changes in the CPT manual introduction can affect how organizations interpret general coding guidance, understand who may furnish services, and follow the process for proposing updates to the code set. The article also highlights new psychiatry-oriented guidance that may be relevant to practices working with behavioral health and evaluation/management coding.

Article Sections

1. Who can deliver services

   Discusses updated introductory language about the meaning of procedure in CPT and the relationship between service placement in the manual and professional qualification language. It also notes guidance related to advanced practice nurses and physician assistants working with physicians.

2. Submitting code change requests

   Covers revised introductory information on how to submit requests to update CPT nomenclature. It also references application submission requirements and the criteria framework for code applications.

3. New psych guidelines

   Summarizes new introductory guidance for psychiatric services and mentions an algorithm intended to support broad selection between evaluation/management and psychiatric coding pathways.