Vagina and cervical biopsies also unbundled.
Because of the addition of the new 58110 code, CPT also revised code 57421 to clarify that it is only for biopsy of the vagina and cervix (if performed), and not an endometrial biopsy.
2ndOPINION CODE KAPUTRELATIVE VALUE UNITS RAISED
Confirmatory consultation codes (99271–99275) will disappear on January 1—a welcome change for most practices because confirmatory consultation codes could not be used when counseling or coordinating care dominated the visit.
In the future, if the patient is seen for a confirmatory consultation, the physician should bill an inpatient or outpatient evaluation and management (E/M) code rather than a consultation. The rationale is that confirmatory consultations are requested by the patient, rather than by a qualified health care provider. If the second opinion is requested by a third party, for example to confirm that recommended surgery was medically indicated, adding modifier 32 (mandated services) is appropriate.
The follow-up inpatient consultation codes (99261–99263) will also be eliminated in 2006. The CPT guidelines for 2006 instruct the physician to report the subsequent hospital care codes (99231–99233) if the patient requires a follow-up visit after the initial inpatient consultation. This change is a positive one for ObGyns, however, because the relative value units for the hospital care codes are slightly higher than were the follow-up consultation codes.