CPT Code Changes for 2013

CPT Code Changes for 2013:  Let's Get Ready Together!

Dear Mark, What is happening? On September 17, 2012, the American Medical Association (AMA) made the 2013 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) code set public, providing details about the significant code changes for psychiatric services. Effective January 1, 2013, the CPT codes you have been using for Diagnostic Interview Examination (90801, 90802), Pharmacologic Management (90862), and the majority of psychotherapy services will be eliminated. In place of the old codes, you will: Use new codes for psychiatric "primary procedures" and report "interactive complexity" when present. Use Evaluation and Management (E/M) codes alone or in conjunction with a psychotherapy time code. In the latter scenario, reporting interactive complexity may also come into play.

So  What Does All of This Mean to Credible and to Our Partners?

To Credible, it means taking the necessary actions to support our Partners, as you adopt the CPT code changes - providing best practices and training in the coming weeks, as well as programming inside the November release cycle. To our Partners, it means making adjustments to your Credible Billing Matrix, forms, prebilling checks, and training your staff. With an understanding of the new CPT coding concepts and how to use the new features in Credible, your staff can correctly document and bill services.

A Little Background Information:

Understanding why the CPT codes were changed and what a few of the benefits are may provide motivation as your Agency makes preparations. The AMA designed the new codes and coding methodology to more accurately reflect current psychiatric practice and incorporated input from key organizations such as the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and American Psychiatric Association (APA).    The benefits include: New CPT codes that provide a more detailed description of the services and convey the complexity of the clients. Potential for increased revenue when using E/M codes.  The AACAP provided the following example: Medicare payment for 99213 is 20% more than it is for 90862 and, for 99214, it is 78% more. Ability to bill for "Psychotherapy for Crisis" - a new service in the 2013 CPT code set.

Three Things Our Partners Should Do Now!

Familiarize your Agency with details about the CPT code changes. Resources: Free National Council webinar CPT Code Changes for 2013:  Impact on Behavioral Health; November 9, 2012, 12-2 pm EST  https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/45154224 AACAP webpage:  Reimbursement for Practitioners (look for the 2012 to 2013 Crosswalk Table, E/M and Psychotherapy Coding Algorithm, and Interactive Complexity Guide) APA webpages:  Changes to Psychiatry CPT Codes  CPT Code Changes for 2013 Help your physicians and billing staff become familiar with E/M coding - the knowledge will help ensure that services are billed correctly and your Agency receives appropriate reimbursement. Resources: Educational materials on AACAP webpage:  Reimbursement for Practitioners AMA's CPT® 2013 Professional Edition Contact your payers to find out if they are aware that the CPT codes are changing and if they will be using them effective January 1, 2013. Although all payers are required to use the new CPT code set by the first of the year, there could be a transition period. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) should confirm their transition period decision in November when they release their fee schedule. Other insurance companies will be posting their new fee schedules throughout the end of the year. Look for more communication from Credible in the coming weeks that will help our Partners get your Credible system and your staff ready for the CPT code changes for 2013. If you have any questions please contact your Credible Account Manager or Implementation Manager.  CPT is a registered trademark of the American Medical Association.

Best Regards, Shelby Shelby Brewer Chief Operating Officer (0) 301-652-9500 | (fax) 240-744-3086 | shelby.brewer@credibleinc.com www.credibleinc.com

Thursday, October 4th from 1 am to 3 am EDT.

Dear Mark , As part of our continued effort to provide increased performance, the Credible architecture solution will undergo database maintenance on Thursday, October 4th from 1 am to 3 am EDT. During this time, some partners may experience momentary and intermittent connectivity issues as updates are applied to each database server. Thank you, Brandon Brandon Franks  Director of IT Infrastructure Credible brandon.franks@credibleinc.com credibleinc.com Credible Mission  To improve the quality of care and lives in behavioral health for clients, families, providers, and management.

Service Note

A note on the service note....

Some changes being tried as a result of our increasing move toward treat to target and rapid access...

On the Service Note:

First, we moved the treatment goal progress to the top of the form to improve the ease of documenting the session.  If information is listed in this area it does not need to be repeated in other areas.  The notes are being designed in efforts to do less work not more.

Second, we are piloting a few other things in efforts to improve our rapid access and collaborative documentation.  A section called Treat to Target Progress has been added to the Service Note form.  This may eventually replace the "Progress Codes" section.  The treat to target button includes language more appropriate to the direction of mental health, and could be filled out with the client using him or her to select the numeric value for how much progress has been made toward the target. This section is optional for now and does not have to be completed as part of the service note.  Once it is used, the numeric value can be graphed and shown visually on the client's profile which could be very useful to use with your clients (looks like the progress to the target is getting pretty close to termination, or looks like things have kind of plateaued).  It is quick and painless to use, just pick the number that correlates, no notes needed.

Printing Problem from within IE

Some of the new Dell Vostro laptops have experienced problems printing from within Internet Explorer Version 8.

How can you tell if you have a problem?
When you send the document to print, all that is printed is the header and footer of the page with the important content in between missing! David J. noticed this when printing a physician letter.

The cure?
David's computer was updated with version 9 of Internet Explorer and the problem was solved.

Need help? 
Contact the Implementation Team by attaching a note to Help Helperson's file. You can also directly email mbeach@thechildcenter.org for assistance on this issue.

Changes to Assessment Screening Section and Treat to Target for OP

Notice of a few changes. 

Some of the language around drug and alcohol/ tobacco/ health screening has changed on the assessment 
form screening section. This is to reflect clarified requirements from Trillium and will further the integration of 
mental health/ physical health/ and addictions. There are also additional questions to capture any referrals we 
make to addictions treatment, smoking cessation, or physical health (which we are required to make if our 
clients present with these concerns and are not already in treatment). 

I also added two sections related to rapid access and treat to target (primarily for OP Therapists) 
There is now a Plan and Treat to Target button on the service note section. You only need to use these 
if they apply to your program (They may be useful for other programs besides OP but at this point are 
not required/ check with your supervisor if you have questions).

Thanks for remaining flexible and doing a fantastic job of using the Credible system. You are an amazing staff!!!

Corey