Industry News: AMA

New Radiology Codes

74174: Computed tomographic angiography, abdomen and pelvis, with contrast material(s), including noncontrast images, if performed, and image postprocessing

77424: Intraoperative radiation treatment delivery, x-ray, single treatment session

77425: Intraoperative radiation treatment delivery, electrons, single treatment session

77469: Intraoperative radiation treatment management

The AMA's Molecular Pathology Coding Workgroup has drafted new CPT coding structure for a category of molecular assays that do not fit into their new system, the so-called "in vitro diagnostic multivariate index assays" (IVDMIAs), renamed multi-analyte assays that employ algorithmic analysis (MAAAs). The proposal includes the creation of a new category temporarily termed "Appendix X" for MAAAs that have not been evaluated by the AMA or found to have insufficient evidence of clinical utility.

Under the new MAAA coding proposal, there are three possible coding paths for MAAAs.

The errata listing corrections to the American Medical Association (AMA) 2012 CPT® book was revised on Oct. 7. The complete list of changes is posted on the AMA website. The following are the changes to the Pathology and Laboratory CPT Codes.

All services performed on or after Oct. 1, 2013 will be required to be coded in ICD-10. To prevent cash flow interruptions, physician practices must complete their transition to ICD-10 by this date. Start preparing now by becoming familiar with the requirements, changes and impacts of the transition to ICD-10. The American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) has made available a number of free resources to help you prepare for ICD-10.

The Dept. of Justice has asked BlueCross BlueShield-affiliated plans in at least six states and the District of Columbia for information about their contracting practices, specifically their use of "most-favored-nation" clauses. The probe comes a few months after the agency sued Michigan's Blues plan over its use of most-favored-nation clauses in its hospital contracts.

The CPT Editorial Panel Molecular Pathology Coding Workgroup (MPCW) was convened in December 2009 with the charge to construct a new subsection of the CPT Pathology and Laboratory subsection, guidelines, definitions and new CPT codes to report molecular pathology. The goal of the MPCW was to provide more current descriptions of the technology required for these services and to more accurately identify and describe the services for all end users of the CPT code set.

Stay up-to-date on changes to CPT® codes. Sign up to receive free e-mail notifications when changes have been posted to the AMA Web site for Category II codes, Category III codes, Vaccine codes and Errata.

A bill to exempt physicians and other professionals from the red flags rule passed the House on Dec. 6, following Senate passage four days earlier, and is headed to Obama's desk for his signature.

The red flags rule required any creditor who held financial data on clients to install identity theft detection and monitoring programs. The rule is the result of the Federal Trade Commission's interpretation of the Fair and Accurate Transactions Act of 2003, which was intended to tighten security of financial data held by banks and credit card companies.