CMS recently released the Physician Fee Schedule code set update in conjunction with the Physician Fee Schedule Final rule, which was published in the Federal Register on November 19, 2008. This code set update becomes effective January 1, 2009.

This code set update includes several new surgical laparoscopy procedures (49652-49657) and stereotactic radiosurgery procedures (61796-61800) and modified skin debridement and benign lesion excision procedures with updated payment rates and RVU values (11004-11012 and 11404, 11406, 11420-11426, respectively).

The January 1, 2009, CPT annual update has been released by the AMA. To avoid denied claims for improper coding beginning January 1st, all providers must implement this annual update over the next two months - not an easy thing to accomplish for any staff! To help, we've compiled the following summary to give you a sample of the larger procedural services that are changing.