CPT Changes for 2013 Reflect Genomics Advances

The American Medical Association has published changes in the Current Procedural Terminology code set for 2013, which will be used for filing claims beginning January 1, 2013. 
Following advancements in genomics research that have increased understanding of the molecular basis of disease, AMA in 2012 added some new CPT codes for molecular pathology tests. Now, the 2013 code set will include 116 such codes. Other additions for CPT in 2013 reflect  physician practice changes, and technology improvements in cardiology, neurologic testing and psychiatry, according to the association.
These changes are coming with adoption of medical homes, accountable care organizations and other new payment and care delivery models to better capture work involved in managing chronically ill patients, according to AMA. “While codes for some of these care coordination services were already available, the new coordination codes for 2013 allow medical practices to efficiently report time spent connecting patients and community services, transitioning them from inpatient to other settings, and preventing readmissions.”
Sessions of AMA’s CPT/RBRVS Symposium in Chicago in November will walk through change sin the 2013 code set. More information is available at http://www.ama-assn.org/go/symposium.