New CPT Codes for 2023, You need to be aware of

A quick fix to end the drips threatening your profitability, let’s pack our minds  with awareness when it comes to the new CPT codes.

Every hospital has financial leakage due to some reason, which costs a significant amount of money.. But it’s time you stop worrying about these process and system issues because you already have much to be concerned about, such as rivalry and new trends.

After researching the main revenue leak points in a hospital,  we have realized that staying updated with changes in codes is crucial. Majority of the practices have benefitted with outsourcing medical billing services.

Here are new CPT codes for 2023 that you need to be aware of.

Evaluation and Management

For 2023, there has been one addition, 26 removals, and 50 updates to the Evaluation and Management (E/M) section. Services for prolonged inpatient or observation E/M are described by a new add-on code (99418). Due to the consolidation of inpatient and observation E/M codes in CY 2023, several observation codes are eliminated. Other codes that have been eliminated include those for long services. The following changes are among them:

• Due to the merging of inpatient and observation codes in 2023, hospital E/M codes should be clarified to cover “inpatient or observation” services.
• Adding the phrase “medically appropriate history and/or examination” in place of the words “detailed or extensive history and examination.”
• When employing time for code selection, adjustments to the overall time needs to meet.
• For clarification, the phrase “on the day of the interaction” has been added to hospital discharge day management codes.
• The definition of “other outpatient” consultation services has been added to the office consultation codes.
• Services that might not necessitate the presence of a physician or other trained healthcare professional have been added to an emergency department E/M code.
• The word “dwelling” has been added to the list of places of service for home visits.
• The prolonged outpatient E/M service add-on code has undergone minor wording clarifications.
• Revisions have been made to the interprofessional telephone, internet, and EHR assessment and management consult service codes to add “other qualified healthcare professional” when referring to the consultant.

Surgery

The following systems have had their coding updated in the surgical section: nervous, integumentary, musculoskeletal, respiratory, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, and male genital.

Integumentary System

In the integumentary system section, three new codes have been added, along with one deletion and one revision:

• The implantation of absorbable mesh or similar prosthesis for delayed closure problems is described under the code 15778.
• The removal of sutures or staples without the need for anesthesia is described by the codes 15853 and 15854.
• Code 15850 is described as removing sutures while sedated, this section has been removed.
• Staples have been eliminated in the updated version of code 15851.

Musculoskeletal System

• The musculoskeletal system section’s new add-on code (22860) specifies a total disc arthroplasty and discectomy to prepare an interspace. The lengthy descriptors for the codes 22857 and 27280 have undergone minor modifications.

Respiratory System

A temperature-controlled remodeling procedure is described in one new respiratory system code (30469) for treating a collapsed nasal valve.

Cardiovascular System

In the cardiovascular area, there are seven new codes and one revision:

• Percutaneous pulmonary artery revascularization with stent replacement is described in codes 33900–33904.
• Percutaneous arteriovenous fistula formation of an upper extremity is described in codes 36836 and 36837.
• The example given in the lengthy descriptor has been revised in code 35883.

Digestive System

There are 18 deletions and 17 new codes in the section on the digestive system:

• An esophagogastroduodenoscopy with the deployment or removal of an intragastric bariatric balloon is described by the codes 43290 and 43291.
• The repair of an anterior abdominal hernia, which may involve the insertion of mesh or another prosthetic, is described in codes 49591 through 49596 and 49613 through 49618.
• The removal of a non-infected mesh or prosthesis or the correction of a parastomal hernia are both covered by the ICD-10 codes 49621-49623. (49623).
• This section’s 18 deleted codes all discuss how to fix different kinds of hernias.

Urinary system

In this section, the definitions of the urinary system codes 50080 and 50081 have been expanded to more fully describe percutaneous nephrolithotomy and pyelolithotomy lithotripsy procedures.

Radiology

One code (76883), which describes an ultrasonography of the nerves and supporting tissues in one extremity, was added to the radiology section. This section’s five codes (76882, 78803, and 78830–78832) have been updated to add clarifying terms to the lengthy descriptors.

Pathology and Laboratory

The pathology and laboratory section has three modifications and eleven new codes:

• Targeted genomic sequence analysis is described by three new codes (81449, 81451, and 81456).
• Using DNA or RNA, four new codes (87468, 87469, 87478, and 87484) define various infectious agent detections.
• For the purpose of analyzing drug metabolism using a genomic sequence, one additional code (81418) has been introduced.
• The identification of inherited bone marrow failure diseases is covered by another new code (81441). (IBMFS).
• The identification of an enzyme known as thiopurine S-methyltransferase is described by code 84433. (TPMT).
• Hepatitis B surface antigen detection is described by code 87467.
• The arrangement of various instances and descriptive language inside the descriptors was changed in three codes in this area (81445, 81450, and 81455), but the basic meaning of the descriptor remained the same.

Additionally, this update contains 23 Category III code removals, including the following:

• Anterior approach total disc arthroplasty (artificial disc).
• Therapeutic vagus nerve blockade for severe obesity
• Skin imaging using optical coherence tomography (OCT).
• Fetal magnetic cardiac signal recording.
• Transvaginal mapping of biomechanics.
• Non-contact ablative laser therapy for an open wound.
• Low-extremity wound contact near-infrared spectroscopy research.
• Event recorder created from electrocardiographic rhythm without constant supervision.
• Cystourethroscopy utilizing mechanical dilatation and therapeutic medication administration into the urethra.
• Identification of the intraoperative visual axis using patient fixation.
• A basic online digital cognitive behavioral therapy programme under remote therapist supervision.

Two remote therapy codes (0733T and 0734T) in the Category III section have had their descriptions changed from “body and limb kinematic measurement based” to “real-time, motion capture based neurorehabilitative.”

Wrapping Up

The adjustments for 2023 do not end here. However, here is a summary of the most significant adjustments that family physicians should be aware of as the year gets started. You are urged to speak with the payers in your area to learn how they will manage the changes because, as always, different payers’ approaches to these changes may differ.

Medical billing outsourcing services are adept with evolving changes. Medisys Data Solution makes it simple for providers to utilize the right codes and receive the compensation that  are due.

Your present procedures might be affected by the 2023 E&M coding changes, but the potential benefits outweigh any slight, short-term hassles. Medisys Data Solutions, a medical billing company is merely one click away! Outsource medical billing and increase your profits with professional medical billing services.