New CPT codes = More Pay to Docs

$600 million – that’s what Medicare estimates it will pay to practices in 2013 for managing patient transitions from hospitals or skilled nursing facilities, according to American Medical News.

New CPT codes will allow physicians to bill for previously unreimbursed care-coordination.   A result of the AMA working with Medicare since last year, the codes cover:   

• Efficient reporting of time spent discussing a care plan
• Connecting patients to community services
• Transitioning patients from inpatient settings and preventing readmissions

Additionally, the codes, in effect since January 1, cover complex chronic care coordination.  The new CPT codes are: 99495, 99496, 99487, 99488, 99489. Review new code descriptions here.  No decision yet as to whether commercial insurers will accept the new codes.