2006 CPT Codes - 6 of 6

Evaluation & Management - 2006 Codes    

Confirmatory Consultations

In 2006, confirmatory consultation codes, 99271-99275, were deleted, because physicians often used them incorrectly and because other existing E/M codes can be used.

  1. Use the office or other outpatient consultation codes, 99241-99245, to report a confirmatory consultation furnished to a new or established patient in the office.
  2. Use the initial inpatient consultation codes, 99251-99255, to report a confirmatory consultation furnished to a new or established patient in the hospital.
  3. Append modifier -32 when the confirmatory consultation is mandatory, such as one required by a payer.

2006 introduces a new family of Nursing Home Codes.

 New 

Description

99300  Subsequent Intensive Care, per day, for the E & M of the recovering infant (present body weight of 2501-5000 grams)

CPT codes 99301-99303 and 99311-13 have been  Deleted .

 New 

Description

99304-99306 Initial nursing facility care, per day - Click for Table
99307-99310 Subsequent nursing facility care, per day
99318  Annual nursing facility assessment

Discharge codes 99315 and 99316 were unchanged.

CPT includes three codes for Comprehensive Nursing Facility Assessments: an annual assessment (99301); an assessment for a major permanent change of status (99302); and, an assessment at the time of admission (99303).

In 2005 there were only three levels of service for established patients in the Subsequent Nursing Facility Care subsection of CPT, and that the highest level of service is restricted to a detailed interval history and a detailed examination. This is inconsistent with current clinical practice. To correct this problem, a new fourth level of service code has been added in 2006 to permit the reporting of a comprehensive level of service.

There is a new code in a new subsection (Other Nursing Facility Care) to allow the reporting of a comprehensive annual assessment.

"This is a service that is unique to the NF setting and the extent of history and examination and the complexity of medical decision making are not well described by the other E & M codes in this section."

 New 

Description

99324-99328 Domiciliary or Rest Home (eg, Boarding Home), or Custodial Care Services, guidelines now state including assisted living facility, New patient
99334-99337 Domiciliary or Rest Home (eg, Boarding Home), or Custodial Care Services, guidelines now state including assisted living facility, Established patient
99339-99340 Domiciliary, Rest Home (e.g., Assisted Living Facility), or Home Care Plan Oversight Services (similar to care plan oversight codes for home health/hospice)

E & M Nursing Facility Codes    

New descriptors for the redefined Nursing Facility Code family.

 Deleted 

   New 

Initial Nursing Facility Care

99301

99304

99302

99305

99303

99306

No 2005 Code

 

   
 Deleted   New 

  Subsequent Nursing Facility Care

99311   99307  

99312

99308  

99313

99309

No 2005 Code

99310


99304 Initial nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient which requires these three key components:

a detailed or comprehensive history;
a detailed or comprehensive examination; and
medical decision making that is straightforward or of low complexity.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

Usually, the problem(s) requiring admission are of low severity.


99305 Initial nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient which requires these three key components:

a comprehensive history;
a comprehensive examination; and
medical decision making of moderate complexity.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

Usually, the problem(s) requiring admission are of moderate severity.


99306 Initial nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires these three key components:

a comprehensive history;
a comprehensive examination; and
medical decision making of high complexity.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

Usually, the problem(s) requiring admission are of high severity.


E & M - Subsequent Nursing Facility Care 99307 - 99310 Click for Table

99307 Subsequent nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires at least two of these three key components:

a problem focused interval history;
a problem focused examination;
straightforward medical decision making.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

Usually, the patient is stable, recovering, or improving.


99308 Subsequent nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires at least two of these three key components:

an expanded problem focused interval history;
an expanded problem focused examination;
medical decision making of low complexity.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

Usually, the patient is responding inadequately to therapy or has developed a minor complication.


99309 Subsequent nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires at least two of these three key components:

a detailed interval history;
a detailed examination;
medical decision making of moderate complexity.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

Usually, the patient has developed a significant complication or a significant new problem.


99310 Subsequent nursing facility care, per day, for the evaluation and management of a patient, which requires at least two of these three key components:

Hx: comprehensive interval history;
Exam: comprehensive examination;
medical decision making: high complexity.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

The patient may be unstable or may have developed a significant new problem requiring immediate physician attention.


The Nursing Facility Discharge Codes have remained  the same:

99315  Nursing facility discharge day management; 30 minutes or less


99316 

Nursing facility discharge day management; more than 30 minutes

This is the new Annual Assessment E & M Code:

99318 Evaluation and management of a patient involving an annual nursing facility assessment, which requires these three key components:

History: Detailed Interval
Exam: Comprehensive 
medical decision making that is of low to moderate complexity.
Counseling and/or coordination of care with other providers or agencies are provided consistent with the nature of the problem(s) and the patient's and/or family's needs.

Usually, the patient is stable, recovering, or improving.


The Domiciliary Care Services Family (99341 - 99350) have updated descriptors and vignettes.   Revised Code 


E & M Domiciliary Care Services  99234-99328 Click for Table

Domiciliary Care Services are new for 2006. Click on the link above to review them.

American Medical  Association. All Rights Reserved. No fee schedules, basic units, relative values, or related listings are included in CPT. The AMA assumes no liability for the data contained herein.  Applicable FARS/DFARS restrictions apply to government use.

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