If you rely on numerical order to ensure you find the proper hemorrhoidectomy code, you need to watch out as from the 1st day of this year, you don't get specific codes where you expect them - and using an unspecified code when a specific code is available could compromise your pay. That is why CPT 2010 brings about the new # symbol to alert you to an out-of-order code.
The "#" works like a flashing yellow light: Slow down, there might be something unanticipated. The AMA has created another option rather than moving groups of codes to new sections. CPT now resequences codes, in some case to avoid renumbering the codes.
For numerical order disruption, get familiar with #
When you are coding a lesion excision, you normally assume the code number increases by one as the excision's size class goes up. However that truism will no longer hold true. Luckily, watching for # will alert you to these inconsistencies.
Here's an instance:
The AMA wanted to break up the soft tissue neck excision parent code 21566 into two different sized-based codes. As 21566 is right next to 21567, there is no room for another code using numeric sequencing. In its place, the AMA selected available numbers that were close to those used.
Follow the road signs to relocated code
The AMA has also got a new method of relocating a present out of order code. Instead of deleting the code and creating a number with the same or similar definition, the AMA will move the code to its more apt location and leave a road sign for you.
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