Optimal Clinical Coding for CYSHCN
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Overview
Though electronic medical records have simplified diagnostic coding for many,
understanding all available codes may support better billing and compensation,
particularly for services provided to children and youth with special health care
needs (CYSHCN). Some codes may not be recognized or compensated by some insurers but
codes that are used appropriately are more likely to gain recognition and
compensation over time. In larger organizations, coding for all services rendered
may result in additional work relative value units (WRVU) credited to clinicians,
even if they do not result in third-party payment.
International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) Coding
Diagnosis coding is based on the ICD-10-CM (International Classification of
Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification), which includes codes that describe
diagnoses, conditions, signs, and symptoms. It also has codes for injuries,
poisoning, and other external causes of morbidity (such as accidents and exposures)
and factors influencing health status and contact with health services. The Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintain an updated, free version of the
International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (WHO); ICD10Data.com offers a free, user-friendly way to search for
codes.
ICD-10 code books are organized in two ways—alphabetically by diagnosis
(Index) and numerically by code (Tabular List). In general, first look in the
alphabetic list for the diagnosis, symptom, etc. Then look up that code in the
tabular list to confirm its accuracy and to peruse subcodes and surrounding codes to
ensure appropriate specificity and level of detail
The most specific code(s) possible should be used.
Example
Q20-28 Congenital malformations of the circulatory system
Q20-28 Congenital malformations of the circulatory system
- Q21 Congenital malformations of cardiac septa
- Q 21.3 Tetralogy of Fallot
Example
H65-H75 Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
H65-H75 Diseases of middle ear and mastoid
- H66 Suppurative and unspecified otitis media
- H66.00 Acute suppurative otitis media without
spontaneous rupture of eardrum
- H66.004 Acute suppurative otitis media without spontaneous rupture of ear drum, recurrent, right ear
- H66.00 Acute suppurative otitis media without
spontaneous rupture of eardrum
ICD-10 Diagnostic Coding for Unknown Diagnoses
When a diagnosis is not known, presenting signs or symptoms may be the
most accurate way to describe the reason for providing the service. Codes should
not be used for conditions to be "ruled out" or that are "possible" or
"probable."
Examples of presenting signs or symptoms or reason for the visit
include:
- Fever [R50.9]
- Hemoglobinuria [R82.3]
- Macrocephaly [Q75.3]
- Low-birth weight, 1500-1999 grams [P07.17]
- Routine child health check with abnormal findings [Z00.121]
- Fall from non-moving wheelchair, initial encounter [W05.0XXA]
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Coding
The codes used to bill for medical services are described by the
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
,
published by the American Medical Association, and not available in a free version.
It includes various categories and types of codes, but this focus will be on
Category 1 codes that are used for evaluation and management services in outpatient
settings. Most of the codes described below apply to services provided by
physicians. Some include services provided by other qualified health care
professionals, defined as “individuals who are qualified by education,
training, licensure/regulation (when applicable) and facility privileging (when
applicable) who perform professional services within his/her scope of practice and
independently reports that professional service.” This group includes nurse
practitioners, certified nurse specialists, physician assistants, clinical social
workers, physical therapists, and others. Some codes also include services provided
by clinical staff under the supervision of a physician or another qualified health
care professional.
Evaluation and Management Services
Selection of evaluation and management (E/M) codes is based on whether
the patient is new or established with the practice and the elements of service
documented, such as review of systems, physical examination, and complexity of
medical decision making. Time-based billing can be used when
counseling and/or care coordination comprise more than 50% of a face-to-face
visit, which is often essential for children with chronic conditions and/or
medical complexity. This involves using a higher E/M code that reflects the
total visit time (e.g., a 40-minute visit of which 22 minutes was
counseling/care coordination should be billed as 99215, despite the elements
warranting only a 99213).
When preventive medicine services (“well-child visits”) for CYSHCN
significantly exceed the usual service provided for such a visit, an office
visit code with a -25 modifier may be added. For example,
billing a preventive medicine visit code (99381-99397) plus an office visit code
with the modifier (e.g., 99213-25 or 99214-25) would account for the added
service addressing the child’s spasticity, seizure disorder, and feeding
problems.
The AAP offers Coding Fact Sheets (AAP)
with detailed information on topics such as:
-
Adolescent Confidentiality Related to Billing (
615 KB)
-
Adolescent Health Services ( 79 KB)
-
After-hours and Special Services ( 84 KB) (urgent and when not
regularly scheduled)
-
Coding for Pediatric Preventive Care (AAP) ( 2.0 MB)
-
Developmental Screening/Testing ( 2.0 MB)
-
Oral Health ( 223 KB)
-
Osteopathic Manipulation ()
-
Telehealth ( 245 KB)
-
Transition to Adult Health Care ( 426 KB)
- Various mental health/behavioral issues, including
ADHD ( 149 KB) and Anxiety ( 148 KB)
Guidelines for documentation (and everything else related to Medicare
and Medicaid billing) can be found on the Center for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) website at CMS Online Manual System.
The Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool (CMS)
offers information on each CPT (aka Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System,
HCPCS) code, including assigned relative value units (RVUs), Medicare payment
amounts (both national and by specific localities), and more. Acceptance of
codes and payment by Medicaid and commercial insurance plans will vary by state
and other factors.
Medical Home Services
Over the past few years, CPT has added codes for several special
services provided by Medical Homes, including non-face-to-face services, home
visits, care plan oversight, team conferences, transition to adult care
management, and complex chronic care management. Deciding whether to
use new codes (and some older codes, such as telephone services)
is complicated by questions about their acceptance or compensation by a
practice’s range of payers and the potential consequences for patients/families,
including triggering unexpected co-payments or full payment for those with high
deductibles. Over time, most codes accepted by Medicare are accepted by other
payors, which may take longer if the codes are rarely submitted. Those
considerations, along with discussions with key payers and patients’ parents,
should drive development of a thoughtful strategy for supporting the provision
of services for CYSHCN. Informing parents prior to use of codes for which
insurance coverage is not certain can avoid unwelcome surprises and angry
reactions if a billed code is rejected.
Coding for Transition-Related Services ( 509 KB)
from Got Transition (MCHB/NAAAH)
provides an excellent overview of the CPT codes relevant to outpatient
care of CYSHCN. It also offers detailed descriptions of the codes
and their associated RVUs and Medicare payment amounts. Though the document was
prepared to support clinicians transitioning patients and includes
transition-specific scenarios, the codes and their descriptions/payments apply
to all ages. Before using any unfamiliar codes discussed below, we suggest
consulting the
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
or a Certified Coding Specialist to
ensure detailed compliance.
509 KB)
from Got Transition (MCHB/NAAAH)
provides an excellent overview of the CPT codes relevant to outpatient
care of CYSHCN. It also offers detailed descriptions of the codes
and their associated RVUs and Medicare payment amounts. Though the document was
prepared to support clinicians transitioning patients and includes
transition-specific scenarios, the codes and their descriptions/payments apply
to all ages. Before using any unfamiliar codes discussed below, we suggest
consulting the
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
or a Certified Coding Specialist to
ensure detailed compliance.
Care Plan Oversight Services
These apply to physician supervision of a patient (who is not present
during the service) in a home, domiciliary, or rest home requiring complex and
multi-disciplinary care involving regular physician development/revision of care
plans, review of status reports and related laboratory and other studies,
communication with relevant other providers, family members, surrogate
decision-makers, and/or caregivers, and integration of new information into the
care plan or adjustment of medical therapy.
- The appropriate code is based on total time within a calendar month: 99339 (15-29 minutes) or 99340 (30 minutes or more).
Home Services
These apply to E/M services provided in a private residence, temporary
lodging, or short-term accommodation. The CPT codes, like those for E/M
services, are based on new vs. established patient and the components of care
provided. “Typical” visit durations are suggested, allowing time-based coding
when care coordination/counseling comprise more than 50% of the visit time. The
codes include:
- For new patients, 99341-99345, with typical duration from 20 to 75 minutes
- For established patients, 99347-99350, with typical duration from 15 to 60 minutes
These codes are not included in Transition to Adult Health Care ( 426 KB), mentioned above.
426 KB), mentioned above.
Prolonged Services With Direct Patient Contact
These CPT codes are used, separately and in addition to the primary
E/M code, when prolonged services involving direct patient contact are provided
by a physician or other qualified health care professional for at least 30
minutes beyond the typical time for the primary service. The codes report the
total duration of face-to-face time spent on a given date providing prolonged
service, even if that service is not continuous.
- 99354 is used for the first “hour” (30-74 minutes) of prolonged services; this code may be used only once for a given date.
- 99355 is used for each additional 30 minutes beyond the first hour (total of 75-104 minutes, 105-134 minutes, etc.) on a given date.
Prolonged Services Without Direct Patient Contact
These are used to report prolonged, non-face-to-face services related
to a recent or upcoming E/M service but not provided as part of that
service/visit. The services must be performed by the billing clinician on a
single day, but the time spent need not be continuous. Such services might
include review of records, writing a summary or report, etc.
- 99358 is used for the first “hour” (30-74 minutes) of prolonged services; this code may be used only once for a given date.
- 99359 is used for each additional 30 minutes beyond the first hour (total of 75-104 minutes, 105-134 minutes, etc.) on a given date.
Prolonged service codes are reported for time spent by the billing
clinician only, not for clinical staff. They cannot be used for time spent
related to services for which no typical time is specified, nor can they be
reported during the same service period as complex chronic care management (CCM)
services or transitional care management (TCM) services. Prolonged Services Codes: Criteria for Use (AAP) offers further
explanation, tips, and vignettes.
Medical Team Conferences
These are used for face-to-face participation of 3 or more qualified
health care professionals from different specialties/disciplines who are
providing care to the patient, with or without the presence of the patient,
family members, surrogate decision-makers, or community agencies. Reporting
clinicians must have provided face-to-face services to the patient in the
previous 60 days. The time reported includes only the time spent discussing the
patient and not record keeping or report generation.
- 99366 is used by nonphysician qualified health care professionals for participation in conferences of 30 minutes or more, with patient and/or family present.
- 99367 is used by physicians for participation in conferences of 30 minutes or more, with the patient or family not present. (Physicians should use E/M codes to report time in team conferences with the patient and/or family present.)
- 99368 is used by nonphysician qualified health care professionals for participation in conferences of 30 minutes or more, with patient or family not present.
General Behavioral Health Integration Care Management
99484 is used by the supervising physician or other
qualified health care professional to report care management services
(face-to-face or non-face-to-face) performed by clinical
staff for a patient with a behavioral health/substance use
condition. The reported service must have required 20 minutes or more in a
calendar month, and a treatment plan is required. The reporting professional
must have an ongoing relationship with the patient.
Care Management Services
These are used for management and support services provided by a physician or
other qualified health care professional or by clinical staff under the
professional’s direction to a patient residing at home or in a domiciliary, rest
home, or assisted living facility and who has 2 or more chronic or episodic
conditions expected to last 12 months or longer and that place the patient at
significant risk of death, acute exacerbation/decomposition or functional
decline. Services include those related to developing and managing a care plan,
coordinating care of other professionals or agencies, and educating
patients/families about the condition. A comprehensive care plan must be
documented and shared with the patient and/or caregiver, identify individuals
responsible for each intervention, and include requirement for periodic review
and, if needed, revision of the plan.
- 99487 is used for establishment/substantial revision of a comprehensive care plan involving moderate-high complexity medical decision-making requiring 60 minutes of clinical staff time in a calendar month
- 99489 is used to report each additional 30 minutes required in a calendar month
- 99490 is used for establishment, implementation, revision, or monitoring of a comprehensive care plan requiring at least 20 minutes of clinical staff time in a calendar month
- 99491 is used for establishment, implementation, revision, or monitoring of a comprehensive care plan requiring at least 30 minutes of physician or other qualified health care professional time in a calendar month
The time reported for 99487, 99489, and 99490 includes face‐to‐face
and non‐face‐to‐face time spent by clinical staff in communicating with the
patient and/or family, caregivers, other professionals, and agencies; creating,
revising, documenting, and implementing the care plan; or teaching
self‐management during the month. Because the reporting requirements are
complex, we recommend reviewing them in detail or consulting a coding
specialist.
Transitional Care Management Services
These are services for new or established patients whose medical
and/or psychosocial problems require moderate or high complexity medical
decision-making during transition from an inpatient or other facility-based care
setting to the patient’s home, domiciliary, rest home, or assisted living
setting. The service period comprises the 29 days beginning on the date of
discharge. Services include initial contact, a face-to-face visit, and
medication reconciliation in combination with non-face-to-face services provided
by the physician, other qualified health care professional, and/or licensed
clinical staff under the professional’s direction.
- 99495 includes communication (direct contact, telephone, electronic) with the patient/caregiver within 2 business days and a face‐to‐face visit within 14 calendar days of discharge and medical decision‐making of at least moderate complexity
- 99496 includes communication (direct contact, telephone, electronic) with the patient and/or caregiver within 2 business days, a face‐to‐face visit within 7 calendar days of discharge, and medical decision‐making of high complexity
Because the reporting requirements are complex, we recommend reviewing
them in detail or consulting a coding specialist.
Telephone Services
These comprise non-face-to-face E/M services provided by a physician
or other qualified health care professional by phone to an established patient
or their guardian and that are not related to an E/M service provided within the
previous 7 days and do not lead to such a service within 24 hours or the soonest
available appointment.
- 99441 involves 5-10 minutes of medical discussion
- 99442 involves 11-20 minutes of medical discussion
- 99443 involves 21-30 minutes of medical discussion
Online Medical Evaluation
99444 is used for E/M service provided via the
internet or similar electronic network by a physician or other qualified health
care professional to an established patient or guardian and not related to an
E/M service provided within the previous 7 days.
Interprofessional Telephone/Internet/Electronic Health Record Consultations
These are assessment and management services provided by a
consultative physician to the patient’s treating/requesting physician or other
qualified health care professional via telephone, the internet, or electronic
health record and include a verbal and written report.
- 99446 involves 5-10 minutes of medical consultative discussion and review
- 99447 involves 11-20 minutes of medical consultative discussion and review
- 99448 involves 21-30 minutes of medical consultative discussion and review
- 99449 involves 31 minutes or more of medical consultative discussion and review
Education and Training for Patient Self-Management
These codes are used by nonphysician qualified health care
professionals for provision of prescribed education and training for patient
self-management using a standard curriculum, face-to-face with the patient
and/or caregiver/family. Codes are used for each 30 minutes with:
- 98960 – an individual patient
- 98961 – 2-4 patients
- 98962 – 5-8 patients
Resources
Information & Support
For Professionals
Medical Home Resources (AAP)
An in-depth look at the medical home model and how to implement it. Includes information about quality improvement, maintenance
of certification activities to improve your medical home, and financing and payment resources; American Academy of Pediatrics.
Coding Resources (AAP)
Books, quick references, and how-to guides for CPT and ICD-10 coding specific to pediatrics; available for purchase from the
American Academy of Pediatrics.
Coding for Transition-Related Services ( 509 KB)
Detailed overview of CPT coding options for the provision of transition-related services; from Got Transition and the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Coding Guidelines (AAP)
Explains the elements needed for coding evaluation and management services, such as the level of visit and decision-making,
complexity of exam, risk of complications, and data to be reviewed; American Academy of Pediatrics.
CPT (Current Procedural Terminology)
Link to the American Medical Association Store where the current version of the CPT can be purchased in hardcopy.
ICD10Data.com
Free, user-friendly reference website that contains all of the official American ICD-10-CM (diagnosis) and ICD-10-PCS (procedure)
medical billing codes.
Physician Fee Schedule Look-Up Tool (CMS)
Offers information on each CPT (aka Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System, HCPCS) code, including assigned relative value
units (RVUs), payment amounts (both national and by specific localities) and more; from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS)
Prolonged Services Codes: Criteria for Use (AAP)
How to code for prolonged non-direct and direct services provided by physicians and other qualified health care professionals;
American Academy of Pediatrics.