Updated 2020 THA Ambulatory Surgery Definition
As you are aware, with each new year comes a new set of CPT/HCPCS codes. After extensive review of the new 2020 codes by the Tennessee Hospital Association (THA) and the Tennessee Health Information Management Association (THIMA) professionals, we have determined which codes should be included or excluded from the ambulatory surgery definition beginning with the Q1-2020 discharge data which are due May 30, 2020.
Please find the updated, change version, definition document here. As you review the document you will see changes to the special inclusion and exclusion lists: codes being removed are highlighted in yellow; and codes being added are highlighted in peach. You may also find the FINAL ambulatory surgery definition document here (this version does not include markups). Below is a breakdown of changes for 2020 THA ambulatory surgery definition:
- 38 CPT codes were added to the general surgery range of 10021-69990
- 52 codes were added and 21 codes were removed from the HCPCS level II selections
- 16 codes were added to the Category III selections
This update will continue to be made each year with the release of new CPT/HCPCS codes.
The THA ambulatory surgery definition document is made available so you understand how the Remote Discharge Data System (RDDS) flags your outpatient records as an ambulatory surgery record. Please continue to submit all of your outpatient records as you currently do and the system will continue to define and flag the ambulatory surgery records for you.
You do not have to make any changes to the way you currently submit your data. This is only an update to reflect the new 2020 CPT/HCPCS codes that are included or excluded in the ambulatory surgery definition.
NOTE: If you have submitted your Q1-2020 data prior to this date, March 27, 2020, you will receive a new verification and edit summary report in your email box over the coming days for your review.