How Prepared are you for the CPT 2015 Upgrade?
How Prepared are you for the CPT 2015 Upgrade?
CMS recently announced the CPT coding changes for 2015. Approximately 500 coding changes will go into effect from January 01, 2015. In order to obtain timely reimbursement for the rendered services, providers are looking for experienced coders who are well-trained in handling these changes.
Industry facts
| Practices lose a large amount of collection dollars due to assigning incorrect CPT codes |
| Failure to update coding to match CPT requirements will result in claims denials. Providers will have to make the most of reimbursement opportunities now so that CPT changes don’t affect their revenue cycle |
CPT codes are numbers assigned to every service or task provided by a doctor. These numbers are needed by the insurance companies to determine how much practitioners need to get paid for their rendered services. The new codes are developed or existing codes are revised as per the changes in healthcare industry.
About CPT 2015 Code Changes:
- 134 revised codes
- 143 deleted codes
- 264 new codes
- Changes in guidelines
The CPT 2015 coding changes will be impacting the reimbursements and practice operations for various specialties. The providers will have to review their coding procedures for different medical services. They will have to hire coders who are capable of assessing the impact of CPT 2015 on the revenue cycle.
How can Coders get Training for CPT?
Various self-study courses for medical coding are available for the coders that help them learn the rules and guidelines of the CPT coding manual. Online courses are also available for beginners as well as experienced coders who want to obtain additional knowledge about coding using the CPT coding manual. Such courses offer coding scenarios to the students, helping them practice their speed in preparation for the coding certification exam.
Coders need to have knowledge about the following:
- Basic knowledge of the CPT coding system
- Knowledge about modifiers, sections and symbols of CPT
- Management and evaluation of sections of CPT
Type of Questions in Exam: Whether a coder appears for CPC (Certified Professional Coder) exam, CPC-P (Certified Professional Coder-Payer) or a CPC-H (Certified Professional Coder-Hospital) exam, he / she will have to deal with questions related to the correct application of CPT, ICD-9-CM diagnoses and procedure codes.
What a Coder Needs: A CPC-P needs to have around two years of professional coding experience and it should include working with the CPT codes. To become a CCS-P (Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-Based), coders should possess good knowledge of the CPT coding system. They will also have to possess knowledge of ICD-9 CM and HSPCS Level II coding systems.
Role of Providers in Implementation: Even providers will have to prepare themselves to tackle the codes changes. They might also need to offer training to their coders so that any potential disruption to the cash flow can be avoided.
MedicalBillersandCoders.com, one of the largest consortiums of coders and billers in the US offers billing solutions to practices of different specialties and job opportunities to coders and billers too. We have a team of certified and well-trained coders who are constantly updated with the latest coding and billing regulations. MBC’s job portal and a coding and billing newsletter provide career related opportunities and knowledge to the medical coders about the industry changes.