Mastering Time-Based Anesthesia Billing: A Guide to Boost Accuracy and Revenue

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  Anesthesia billing is a unique and intricate component of medical billing that differs significantly from other specialties. Unlike procedures billed on a per-service basis, anesthesia is often billed based on the duration of the service—making time-based billing a critical factor in accurate reimbursement. Let’s break down what time-based anesthesia billing entails and how practices can optimize their billing processes to avoid costly errors and delays. What is Time-Based Anesthesia Billing? Time-based anesthesia billing involves calculating charges based on the total time the anesthesiologist spends with a patient. This typically includes: Preoperative preparation Administration and maintenance of anesthesia Post-anesthesia care until the patient is no longer under the anesthesiologist’s care The billing formula generally looks like this: Total Units = Base Units + Time Units + Modifying Units Base Units : Determined by the specific surgical procedure perfor...

2022 Revised Codes for Principal Care Management

 

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In the Final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) for 2022 issued on November 2, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) added five new CPT codes in the categories of Chronic Care Management (CCM) and Principal Care Management (PCM) and increased reimbursement for already existing codes in the same categories. These codes are like chronic care management services in that the work involves the establishment, implementation, revision, and monitoring of a care plan for a patient. However, principal care management focuses on a single condition (rather than two or more). In the year 2022, Medicare will accept CPT codes 99424, 99425, 99426, and 99427, and discontinue HCPCS codes G2064 and G2065.

2022 Revised Codes for Principal Care Management

CPT 99424: Principal care management services, for a single high-risk disease, with the following, required elements:

  • one complex chronic condition expected to last at least 3 months, and that places the patient at 
  • significant risk of hospitalization, acute exacerbation/ decompensation, functional decline, or death, 
  • the condition requires development, monitoring, or revision of a disease-specific care plan, the condition requires frequent adjustments in the medication regimen, and/or the management of the condition is unusually complex due to comorbidities, 
  • ongoing communication and care coordination between relevant practitioners furnishing care. 

The first 30 minutes are provided personally by a physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar month. The reimbursement rate for CPT 99424 in the year 2022 is $81. 

CPT 99425: For each additional 30 minutes provided personally by a physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar month (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure. The reimbursement rate for CPT 99424 + 99425 in the year 2022 is $139.

CPT 99426: Principal care management services, for a single……. between relevant practitioners furnishing care. The first 30 minutes of clinical staff time are directed by the physician or other qualified health care professional, per calendar month. The reimbursement rate for CPT 99426 in the year 2022 is $61.

CPT 99427: For each additional 30 minutes of clinical staff time directed by a physician or other qualified health care professional per calendar month (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure. The reimbursement rate for CPT 99426 + 99427 in the year 2022 is $108. Read Continue: 2022 Revised Codes for Principal Care Management

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