What radiology providers need to know about 2022 CPT coding updates
The American Medical Association has made a slew of updates to Current Procedural Terminology codes in 2022, but only a select few will impact imaging.
Altogether, there are nearly 250 new CPT codes this year and more than 60 deletions. Four are disappearing in imaging, including radiologic examination of complex motion body section (other than urography) along with epidurography, radiological supervision and interpretation.
“Although the following codes that were deleted from use were rarely used, practices should review their systems to be sure they are not used in the future, which would result in payment denial and delay,” Erin Stephens, senior client manager of education at consulting firm Healthcare Administrative Partners, wrote in an update shared Monday.
Meanwhile, the AMA has also added four new codes for reporting trabecular bone scores, used to assess microarchitecture and predict the risk of major osteoporotic fractures. There is also a new Category 1 code for gastrointestinal tract imaging of the colon, with interpretation and report. Replacing an older code, the update carries reimbursement on the Medicare fee schedule including $122.85 for the professional component and $971.74 for the global charge.
There are also two more new codes for reporting thermal nerve destruction—an image-guided procedure that provides relief for certain lower back—in interventional radiology. Stephens also detailed several new Category 3 codes, used for collecting data on emerging technologies. Read more from HAP below.
In other CPT news, the American College of Radiology said it presented five CPT codes for valuation at the AMA’s Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee meeting earlier this month.
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.