Prolonged Services (Codes 99354 - 99359)
This transmittal updates Chapter 12, §§30.6.15.1 and 30.6.15.2. Several code changes, code deletions, and typical/average time units have changed in the American Medical
Association Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding system since the manual section was first written. Physician visits for counseling and/or coordination of care are based on typical/average time units necessitating a section explaining current Medicare policy. The time approximation must meet or exceed the typical/average time of a specific code and shall not be "rounded" to the next higher level. Prolonged services may only be reported with the highest code level in a code family for counseling and/or coordination of care services based on time. The tables for threshold times are corrected and updated.
Issued by: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
Issue Date: April 11, 2008
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