AMA Releases Errata and Technical Corrections for CPT® 2021
Since Category I codes are only released once per year, the American Medical Association (AMA) releases editorial updates to the AMA website in the form of CPT® errata and technical corrections. Errata are the revisions to the CPT® code set which are needed to correct editorial errors. Technical corrections are revisions to the CPT® code set which are needed to clarify or correct unforeseen or unintended issues following publication. They do not represent changes in intended use and thus are effective retroactively.
These revisions have been released for 2021 and highlights include:
- Provider activities that should not be included as part the total time for E/M services performed on the date of the encounter;
- Provider ordering/performance/interpretation of diagnostic tests/studies versus performance of tests that do not require separate provider interpretation;
- Complexity of the presenting symptoms versus final diagnosis affecting the medical decision making (MDM);
- Definition of “analyzed” in terms of amount and/or complexity of data to be used as part of the MDM;
- Definitions of “unique” test and combination of data elements for MDM; and
- Definitions of major or minor surgery, elective or emergency surgery, risk for patient and procedure.
To review the errata and technical corrections in their entirety, click here.
