New diagnostic procedure codes and reimbursement

With the implementation of the new Medicare Physician Fee Schedule on January 1, 2019, it can be beneficial for all practitioners to grasp an understanding of how reimbursement is determined. With the new Physician Fee Schedule also came new relative value units (RVUs) and new billing codes. Biopsy codes, in particular, were changed to reflect the complexity of the sampling technique (ie, tangential, punch, incisional). In this article, we explain RVUs and how they determine reimbursement. This article also highlights changes and additions to billing codes, specifically for biopsies and telemedicine services.