The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / AMA Meetings Tackle Practice Expense, Code Description Changes & More

AMA Meetings Tackle Practice Expense, Code Description Changes & More

July 18, 2018 • By From the College

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

The American Medical Association’s (AMA) RVS Update Committee (RUC) and the Current Procedural Terminology Committee (CPT) meet six times per year to review resource costs and code descriptors for provider services. At these meetings, the ACR is represented by several volunteers and staff to provide a voice in shaping Medicare policy for rheumatology. The first half of 2018 has been packed with work for the ACR advisors and staff at both the RUC and CPT.

You Might Also Like
  • Annual AMA Committee Meetings Present Large-Scale Survey Results on E/M Codes
  • ACR Seeks Advisors for AMA/Specialty Society RUC and CPT Committee
  • AMA RUC Survey of New Evaluation & Management Visit Codes: Your Expertise Required
Also By This Author
  • Quality Payment Program 2021 Final Rule Released

RUC Meeting Highlights
At the January 2018 AMA RUC meeting in San Diego, the ACR, along with the American College of Radiology, the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the American College of Nuclear Medicine convened a consensus panel to present the practice expense data for dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry DXA for CPT code 77081. A compelling argument was made on two fronts to request an increase for clinical staff time, total cost of supplies and/or total cost of equipment. First, in the non-facility setting, the dominant provider was previously radiology, but it is now internal medicine. Second, there has been a change in the type of equipment typically used to perform this procedure. Current technology uses general-purpose fan beam units with accompanying computer and software. These units allow for highly accurate and repeatable DXA scanning at extremely low radiation doses.

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

It was also necessary to present more granular details regarding clinical staff time during the intra-service period when patients are properly positioned on the scan table to obtain an initial scan of the region of interest. The technologist confirms the adequacy of the image (e.g., proper positioning, adequate exposure, etc.). Positioning is compared with any prior study to ensure the patient was similarly positioned, and repeat imaging is performed if needed. The technologist defines the proximal and distal regions for analysis, ensuring that any metal, healed fractures, etc. are excluded. Images and bone mineral density data in report form are prepared for transmission to the picture archiving and communication system for reporting. The survey results and comparison with applicable codes support the recommended value for 77081, which was accepted by the AMA practice expense committee.

Additionally, the ACR RUC advisors are monitoring the work of the RUC’s Research Subcommittee, which is reviewing the existing pre- and postservice time packages, and will recommended new and revised time packages, if deemed necessary.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

One key topic being monitored is the committee’s outline on how to define a complex patient, because this will affect whether the current packages need to be updated, as well as how to create non-facility postservice time packages. The work group is reviewing the packages, which include an analysis with the 25th percentile, median and 75th percentile pre- and postservice times, a comparison between the survey times and the final RUC recommendations for past packages with assigned times.

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: From the College, Meeting Reports Tagged With: American Medical Association (AMA), code description change, Current Procedural Terminology Committee (CPT), meeting update, RVS Update Committee (RUC)

You Might Also Like:
  • Annual AMA Committee Meetings Present Large-Scale Survey Results on E/M Codes
  • ACR Seeks Advisors for AMA/Specialty Society RUC and CPT Committee
  • AMA RUC Survey of New Evaluation & Management Visit Codes: Your Expertise Required
  • Value for Service: ACR Update on RUC & CPT Activities

Meeting Abstracts

Browse and search abstracts from the ACR Convergence and ACR/ARP Annual Meetings going back to 2012.

Visit the Abstracts site »

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

ACR Convergence

Don’t miss rheumatology’s premier scientific meeting for anyone involved in research or the delivery of rheumatologic care or services.

Visit the ACR Convergence site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.