In the ever-evolving landscape of medical technology, digital pathology continues to make significant strides. The American Medical Association (AMA) has recently unveiled its plans for the year 2024, introducing 30 new Category III digital pathology Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) codes. In this blog post, we delve into the details of these new codes, their implications, and the advancements they bring to the field of pathology.
Category III CPT Codes: What's New?
The new codes are designed to encompass the additional clinical staff work and service requirements associated with the process of digitizing glass microscope slides for primary diagnosis. By creating specific codes for these tasks, the AMA is providing a comprehensive framework that accurately represents the efforts behind digital pathology.
Billing and Reimbursement
According to an article by APS Medical Billing, "clients who are preparing the digitized slide images should be billing the add-on charge; typically, this will be associated with the TC component. However, some charges (such as, peripheral blood smear review, CPT 85060) do not have separate TC/PC component modifiers - in these cases whoever prepares the digitized slide images or provides the digitization procedure may report the applicable add-on Category III code."
The 30 new codes are intended to be used in conjunction with a primary charge (each Category III add-on code corresponds on a one-to-one basis with the primary CPT code). However, Code 88361 (morphometric analysis) is excluded, as digital pathology preparation is inherently covered within its code descriptor.
Expanded Scope: Cytology, Consultations, and FNAs
Among the new additions for 2024 are codes related to cytology, consultations, fine-needle aspirations (FNAs), and more, expanding the range of reimbursable applications.
Improved Healthcare
As we approach 2024, the medical field continues to push the boundaries of innovation. The impending release of the new CPT codes is a pivotal step toward a digitized diagnostic pathology landscape. This update not only recognizes the significance of digital pathology in modern medicine but also sets the stage for a more streamlined and comprehensive approach to diagnosing medical conditions.
For the complete list of new codes, click here.
