No Grace Period for New and Revised 2007 CPT-4 Codes
To: PSA Affiliated Practices
From: John R. Outlaw, Chief Compliance Officer
Re: Reminder -- No Grace Period for New 2007 CPT Codes
This is a reminder that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented a policy change a couple of years ago eliminating the 90-day grace period for converting to the use of new procedure codes. Therefore, the following new and revised CPT-4 codes for 2007 are now required for all services provided on or after January 1, 2007.
NEW CPT CODES for 2007
Chemistry
82107: Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP); AFP-L3 fraction isoform and total AFP (including ratio)
83698: Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, (Lp-PLA2)
83913: Molecular diagnostics; RNA stabilization
The 83913 code was specifically created to report the stabilization of ribonucleic acid (RNA) in molecular pathology techniques. Prior to 2007, molecular diagnostic CPT code descriptors only recognized the preservation of nucleic acid material.
Immunology
86788: Antibody; West Nile virus, IgM
86789: Antibody; West Nile virus
Microbiology
87305: Infection agent antigen detection by enzyme immunoassay technique, qualitative or semiqualitative,
multiple-step method; Aspergillus
87498: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); enterovirus, amplified probe technique
87640: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Staphylococcus aureus, amplified probe
technique
87641: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin
resistant, amplified probe technique (For assays that detect methicillin resistance and identify
Staphylococcus aureus using a single nucleic acid sequence, use 87641)
87653: Infectious agent detection by nucleic acid (DNA or RNA); Streptococcus, group B, amplified probe
technique
87808: Infectious agent detection by immunoassay with direct optical observation; Trichomonas vaginalis
REVISED CPT CODES for 2007
Microbiology
87088: Culture, bacterial; with isolation and presumptive identification of each isolate, urine
This revision was created to clarify the AMA’s intent that each isolate identified in a bacterial culture of a urine specimen should be separately coded.
Cytopathology
88106: Cytopathology, fluids, washings or brushings, except cervical or vaginal; simple filter method with
interpretation
88107: Cytopathology, fluids, washings or brushings, except cervical or vaginal; smears and simple filter
preparation with interpretation
(For non-gynecological selective cellular enhancement including filter transfer techniques, use 88112)
The 88106 and 88107 were created to report simple filter methodologies. However, some coders mistakenly applied these codes when the newer filter transfer techniques such as thin layer methodologies were performed. In addition to revising the 88106 and 88107 codes, the 2007CPT-4 manual includes an instructional note clarifying that the 88112 code is to be assigned when cellular enhancement techniques or the thin layer methodology is performed.
Surgical Pathology
89060: Crystal identification by light microscopy with or without polarizing lens analysis; tissue or any body
fluid (except urine)
(Do not report 89060 for crystal identification on paraffin-embedded tissue)
The 89060 previously stated “Crystal identification by light microscopy with or without polarizing lens analysis; any body fluid.” The code revision allows coders to now assign the 89060 code when smears from a tissue sample are evaluated for crystals. The parenthetical note clearly advises that this code is not to be assigned for crystal identification in paraffin embedded tissue. In order to report the 89060 code, the physician must issue a report with findings.