When the American Medical Association published an updated CPT code manual with new codes effective January 1, 2000, they inadvertently deleted some codes on the ASC list. HCFA had never meant to stop payment for these procedures, but the updated CPT manual suddenly left no code to describe them. As a result, some Medicare carriers and third-party payors began denying payment for the deleted codes. To correct this, HCFA has added the replacement codes listed below to the ASC list for services furnished on or after January 1, 2000. Although issued at the end of May, HCFA has instructed Medicare carriers to apply these policies to all claims that were made on or after January 1, 2000. They have also directed Medicare carriers to re-open denied claims. For more information, call HCFA's Joan Briscoe at (410) 786-4495.

One note: In the table below, I have listed the current APC rates. These may change dramatically when the final rates are published in November 2000 (and go into effect in April 2001).