Results of the Survey on the New CPT Codes

 

 

101 responses

What is your profession?
	Psychiatrist 82 81% Nurse Practioner 11 11% Physician's Assistant 2 2% Prescribing Psychologist 0 0% Other 6 6%

Are you ready to begin using the new CPT codes next week?
	Yes 38 38% No 32 32% I'm not sure if I'm ready 29 29% I didn't know I had to change how I code. 2 2%

What have you done to learn the new codes?
	Taken a real-life course 29 29% Taken the APA's online course 25 25% Read the E/M manual pertaining to psychiatry 51 52% Asked colleagues 50 51% Watched Dinah's YouTube tutorial series 20 20% Taken another (not APA) course 13 13% Nothing, I am not at all ready 9 9% Other 17 17% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

Has Updating to the New Codes Cost You Money?
	No 42 42% $0 to $250 31 31% $250 to $500 10 10% $500 to $1000 0 0% $1000 to $1500 0 0% More than $1500 6 6% I have not yet spent any money, but I intend to soon 12 12%

Are you hopeful that the new coding will result in higher reimbursements to you or your patients?
	Yes 29 29% No 37 37% I am uncertain 35 35%

Do you see the changes to using the 99 series E/M codes as being positive for psychiatry?
	Yes 26 26% No 36 36% I am uncertain 39 39%

Are you concerned that the new requirements for documentation will be a burden?
	Yes 89 88% No 12 12%

Were you already using the 99 series E/M codes in your practice before these changes?
	Yes 22 22% No 79 78%

Are you confident you know how to use and document the new codes in a way that your bills will be accepted by insurers?
	Yes 28 28% No 73 72%

How do you feel about the APA's support of the new billing codes?

Good: It's about time -- psychiatrists should bill like other doctors 20 20% Good: I am hopeful this will help destigmatize psychiatry 21 21% Bad: I wish APA did not support these changes 17 17% I am ambivalent -- I see good and bad to the process 34 34% I have no feelings about this 8 8% I am angry: this adds a large burden to my practice 34 34% People may select more than one checkbox, so percentages may add up to more than 100%.

Do the new coding documentation requirements change how much you worry about having your charts audited by insurers?
	Yes --I worry more 65 64% Yes: I am less worried then I was with the old ways of coding 2 2% No: I wasn't worried before and I'm not worried now 34 34%

What percentage of your patients do you also see for psychotherapy?
	None, or less than 5% 21 21% 5-25% 10 10% 26-50% 15 15% 51-75% 18 18% 76-100% 37 37%