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AMA releases 2020 CPT code updates
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Today, the AMA released the 2020 CPT updates, which include new codes to report e-visits, home BP monitoring, and interdisciplinary care coordination between PCPs and specialists.
“An annual editorial process draws insight from the entire health care community to produce practical code enhancements to CPT that support advancements in technology and medical knowledge available for the care of patients,” Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, president of the AMA, said in a press release.
The 2020 CPT code set comprises 394 code changes, including 248 new codes, 71 deletions and 75 revisions.
Important updates to the code set include new codes for online digital evaluation services, known as e-visits, which are carried out through online communication tools such as patient portals. Six codes were created to describe patient-initiated digital communication provided by a physician, another qualified health care professional, or by a nonphysician health care professional.
Other updates include the addition of codes to reflect current clinical practices, including codes to report self-measured BP monitoring and interdisciplinary care coordination between PCPs and specialists for health and behavior assessments and interventions.
A significant update to the CPT code included the deletion of four codes and the addition of 23 codes to report long-term electroencephalographic monitoring services, which are essential to diagnose epilepsy.
“With the advance of new technologies for e-visits and health monitoring, many patients are realizing the best access point for physician care is once again their home,” Harris said. “The new CPT codes will promote the integration of these home-based services that can be a significant part of a digital solution for expanding access to health care, preventing and managing chronic disease, and overcoming geographic and socioeconomic barriers to care.” – by Erin Michael
Disclosure: Harris is president of the AMA.