The revised code set now features descriptions of procedures and services in Spanish for the first time.
The American Medical Association’s 2024 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set, revealed today, encompasses various noteworthy features. These include consolidated codes for reporting ongoing COVID-19 immunizations, provisional codes for upcoming monovalent vaccines, and codes for Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) immunizations.
According to an announcement from the AMA, the 2024 code set incorporates 230 new additions, 49 removals, and 70 revisions within its extensive repertoire of 11,163 codes.
The 2024 edition will mark a significant milestone by introducing Spanish language explanations for medical procedures and services. This development aims to benefit around 41 million Spanish-speaking individuals in the United States, enabling them to comprehend medical information easily. This initiative is geared towards fostering a more inclusive healthcare environment, where language ceases to be a hindrance, empowering patients to actively participate in their own care.
To streamline the process of reporting COVID-19 immunizations, the 2024 code set consolidates over 50 previous immunization reporting codes into a concise set of 17 codes (91300-91317). Additionally, a new code (90480) has been introduced to report the administration of any COVID-19 vaccine for any patient, effectively superseding all previously approved specific vaccine administration codes.
Furthermore, provisional codes (91318-91322) have been included for monovalent Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, awaiting approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The 2024 code set introduces five new codes (90380, 90381, 90683, 90679, and 90678) tailored to address product-specific RSV immunizations. These codes are expected to enhance tracking, reporting, and analytical capabilities for planning and allocation purposes, as stated by the AMA.
In response to requests from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, certain evaluation and management (E/M) reporting codes have undergone revisions for improved clarity. These revisions encompass:
- Removing time ranges from office or other outpatient visit codes (99202-99205, 99212-99215) and aligning the format with other E/M codes.
- Defining the “substantive portion” of a split/shared E/M visit, wherein a physician and a non-physician practitioner collaborate to provide all the necessary work related to the visit.
- Providing instructions for reporting hospital inpatient or observation care services, as well as admission and discharge services, particularly when a patient’s stay spans across two calendar dates, utilizing codes 99234-99236.