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Question: I have a procedure report that lists the service performed as 鈥渘oninvasive assessment of oxygenation.鈥� Could you tell me what code to report?

Washington Subscriber

Answer: CPT^庐 lists 鈥渢emporary鈥� codes with four numerals followed by 鈥淭鈥� in the Category III section. These temporary codes have been assigned by the AMA to represent emerging technologies, services, procedures, and service paradigms. These codes are published on the AMA website every six months following approval by the CPT^庐 Editorial Panel.

Pulmonology coders have a code for reporting the noninvasive assessment of cardiorespiratory status: Category III code 0893T (Noninvasive assessment of blood oxygenation, gas exchange efficiency, and cardiorespiratory status, with physician or other qualified health care professional interpretation and report). This code was added to the CPT^庐 code set in July 2024.

MediPines developed the equipment used for the procedure. 鈥淭he technology provides reliable, discriminative readings that support real-time decision making when assessing and treating cardiorespiratory patients,鈥� the company wrote in an April 2024 .

According to the company, the MediPines technology provides oxygen deficit and 鈥渙ther sensitive measures of cardiorespiratory health.鈥�

Category III objective: The purpose of Category III codes is to allow data collection regarding how often clinicians perform a particular service. That means you should not use an unlisted Category I code if CPT^庐 provides a Category III code for a procedure 鈥� the latter takes priority, according to the section guidelines.

Note: Category III codes have an expiration date, which is typically after five years. Before expiration, the AMA either converts the procedure to a Category I code or archives the code due to limited use.

Important: Regardless of current pay, you should report Category III codes if you perform the described services. By reporting Category III codes you鈥檒l help provide the data for clinical usage that could impact a Category III code鈥檚 conversion to a Category I code and future payment.

Mike Shaughnessy, BA, CPC, Development Editor, AAPC