by Barbara J Cobuzzi The 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule was published by CMS on Tuesday December 1, 2020. (https://www.cms.gov/files/document/12120-pfs-final-rule.pdf) There were not many surprises since we had the Proposed Rule to review during the late summer/early fall. But one new item was introduced as part of the 2021 Outpatient E&M Documentation changes that was not expected and that was the introduction of CMS code G2212, “Prolonged office or other outpatient evaluation and management service(s) beyond maximum required time of the primary procedure which as been selected using total time on the date of the primary service; each additional 15 minutes by the physician or qualified healthcare professional with or without direct patient contact (list separately in addition to CPT codes 99205 or 99215 for office or other outpatient evaluation and management services)”. G2212 replaces AMA CPT code 99417 for Medicare Part B patients. The AMA description of 99417, “Prolonged office or other outpatient evaluation and management service(s) beyond minimum required time of the primary procedure which as been selected using total time requiring total time with or without direct patient contact beyond the usual service, on the date of the primary service, each additional 15 minutes of total time (list separately in addition to CPT codes 99205 or 99215 for office or other outpatient evaluation and management services)” Comparing the definitions of G2212 and 99417 it appears at first blush, that they are they are the same. But in reality, one word difference in the two definitions is what sets them apart and… Read More
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