• Health Tech

New CPT Codes for Digital Health Applications.

February 07, 2023

In recent years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has recognized the importance of payment for services delivered through digital technologies.

These are equally useful for collecting medical data and electronically transmitting the information to the health care provider providing the evaluation and management of the treatment.

In 2019 CPT codes for remote physiological monitoring (RPM) will begin to be introduced; CMS has gradually established payment rates, adding new codes each year for new technologies that emerge for different areas of medicine.

This early 2023, no exception, saw the addition of additional billing codes, such as those for digital ophthalmology and remote therapeutic monitoring. 

Leslie Prellwitz, the American Medical Association’s director of CPT content management and development recently made this statement, “The Current Procedural Terminology code set does move with the pace of medicine, keeping up with all the changes that are coming at us.” It is clear from her words the impact modern technology is having on current medical practice; a true sign of progress!

In a recent article published by the AMA on December 5, Prellwitz acknowledged the ongoing changes in healthcare and the need for corresponding updates to the CPT code set.

Here are the new digital health codes for 2023: 

Remote therapeutic monitoring (time per month):

• 98980: During the initial 20 minutes of treatment management services.
• 98981: For every 20 minutes of treatment, management services are provided.

Digital ophthalmology:

• 0704T–0706T: This treatment of amblyopia using a cutting-edge eye-tracking device is available remotely and covers all necessary supplies, technical support, interpretation services, and report generation.

Examination by pathologists remotely or in conjunction with the use of artificial intelligence algorithms:

• 0751T–0763T: By digitizing glass microscope slides, we can provide pathologists with the opportunity to conveniently observe and analyze tissue specimens from a distance or use AI algorithms.

It is important as a medical biller to be aware of these additions to the billings regulation.

As medicine continues its digital transformation, the integration of these new CPT codes will support the ongoing adoption and expansion of remote therapeutic monitoring, digital ophthalmology, and AI-driven pathology. 

By accurately documenting and coding these services, healthcare professionals can ensure proper reimbursement for their valuable contributions to patient care and contribute to the understanding and integration of digital health technologies in the healthcare system.