1. New CPT® Codes for Adaptive Behavior Services: What ABA Providers Need to Know

2. OVERVIEW WHAT ARE CPT CODES AND HOW ARE THEY DEVELOPED?
ONCE A CPT CODE EXISTS, HOW IS IT VALUED?
NEW ABA CODES FOR 2019
HOW TO PREPARE FOR THE NEW CODE IMPLEMENTATION

3. Background / Disclosures
9 years of coding and reimbursement experience with national medical specialty societies. Includes expertise in navigating the Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement cycles and other healthcare regulatory issues.
MHCS conducts consulting services for the following organizations:
Association for Behavior Analysis International
Association of Professional Behavior Analysts
Autism Speaks
Behavior Analyst Certification Board
Bierman ABA Autism Centers
MBH Services LLC
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Director of Operations for Residential Options, Inc.

4. What are CPT CODES?
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) is a listing of descriptive terms and identifying codes for reporting medical services and procedures.
The purpose of CPT is to provide uniform language that accurately describes healthcare services in order to foster consistent communication among physicans and other healthcare providers, patients, and third parties.
CPT codes are issued, copyrighted, and maintained by the American Medical Association (AMA).

5. Who can request a new code?
ESSENTIALLY ANYONE: Medical specialty societies, individual physicians, hospitals, third- party payers and other interested parties may submit for consideration by the panel.
The AMA’s CPT staff reviews all requests to ensure they have not already addressed the question. If the application represents a new issue, the application is referred for evaluation and comment.
An open comment period then follows which allows CPT Advisors and the “interested parties” from the public to submit comments and questions.
Applicants are notified in advance if their CCA has not received any support and have the opportunity to withdraw.

6. CPT CYCLE:
The Panel meets 3 times per year to review applications (winter, spring and fall).
Applications are due approximately 2-3 months in advance of the CPT Editorial Panel meetings. This allows time for comment and review by the assigned Panel reviewers. Submitters receive comments in advance and have an opportunity to amend or withdraw based on those comments.

7. “I WIN, I WIN”!!! - Addition of a new code or revision of existing codes, in which case the change would appear in a forthcoming volume of CPT
“MAYBE…” Referral to a workgroup for further study
“TRY, TRY AGAIN” - Postponement to a future meeting (to allow submission of additional information in a new application)
“SORRY, CHARLIE” - Rejection of the item

8. Types of CPT Codes CATEGORY I:
These codes are numeric, and are five digits long. They are divided into six sections: Evaluation and Management, Anesthesia, Surgery, Radiology, Pathology and Laboratory, and Medicine.
These are permanent codes accepted by CMS and other third party payers.
CATEGORY III:
These codes are a set of temporary codes that allow data collection for emerging technology, services, and procedures.
These codes are intended to be used for data collection to substantiate widespread usage.

9. Once I have a code, how is it valued?
OPTIONS:
Valuation through the AMA Relative Update Committee (RUC) process / survey
Valuation through rulemaking (i.e. CMS assigns values and allows notice and comment of their proposed values)
Remain “carrier priced”. CMS does not set a value and all payers determine their own reimbursement rates

10. WHAT IS THE AMA RUC?
The RUC is a unique committee of representatives of major medical specialty societies. It is dedicated to describing the resources required to provide physician services, which CMS considers in developing Relative Value Units (RVUs) for health insurance billing codes. 
The RUC does this through standardized surveys that are sent out by medical specialty societies or other professional organizations that are recognized as “stakeholders” by the AMA to members who are familiar with the services being valued.
IMPORTANT NOTE: At present no behavior analysis organizations are recognized as stakeholders.
Although the RUC provides recommendations, CMS makes all final decisions about Medicare/Medicaid payments. Those are released twice a year via the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS).

11. WHAT IS CARRIER PRICING?
CPT codes are carrier priced when a RUC survey is not completed. This can occur for several reasons:
The Specialty does not feel they can obtain an adequate sample (ranges from ),
The Specialty does not have a seat on the necessary panels, and therefore, cannot sponsor a RUC survey,
The Specialty elects not to survey and prefers the carrier priced valuation

12. WHAT IS CARRIER PRICING?
How Does this Work?
Specialties or individuals can inform CMS valuation by submitting valuation information/recommendations as part of the MPFS rulemaking cycle.
If valuation information is not received, or CMS elects not to implement the recommendations, the codes can remain “carrier priced”
Depending on the valuation outcome, commercial payers may or may not be likely to follow suit.

13. ABA Coding: Where we started
Initial CCA submitted to the CPT Editorial Panel by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) in May 2013
To address inconsistent coding and reimbursement for ABA services by payers
The May 2013 meeting of the CPT Editorial Panel resulted in a workgroup being formed by to evaluate the needs for an ABA code set.
Consisted of representatives from ABAI and organizations for other professions (psychology, speech- language pathology, occupational therapy, psychiatry, pediatrics, etc.)

14. ABA coding: Where we started
October 2013 CPT Editorial Panel Meeting
Multi-organization work group submitted a revised CCA.
Category III (temporary) codes for “adaptive behavior services” were approved!
Those codes took effect July 2014.
ABAI conducted a survey of members to garner input. Feedback indicated that there were concerns with the code set.

15. ABA coding: Where we’ve been
In 2015 an ABA Services Work Group was formed to develop a proposal to modify the Category III CPT codes and convert them to Category I codes
Steering Committee: representatives of ABAI, the Association of Professional Behavior Analysts (APBA), the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB), and Autism Speaks
Work group: ABA providers (representing small, medium, and large practices or agencies), consumer advocates, and representatives of some health plans
Sent a survey to 31,068 ABA providers to collect information on usage of the Category III and other codes
Compiled other feedback on the Category III codes from hundreds of providers and payers
Sought input from CPT Editorial Panel staff, professional societies identified by AMA as “stakeholders”

16. ABA Coding: Where we’ve been
The ABA Workgroup Submitted a Code Change Application to CPT® Editorial Panel October 2016 and presented it at Panel’s February 2017 meeting
The Application included:
Revised code set
Rationale for proposed revisions
Vignettes and descriptions of work
Evidence review
Policy statements, guidelines from professional societies and payers
Descriptions of providers

17. Key Concerns the CCA Aimed to Address
Challenges with add on coding structure
Challenges with 30 minute increments for codes
Uncertainty about how to code/report “supervision” / Direction of technician work by BCBA
Uncertainty about how to code/report indirect services / time
Confusion about differences between group work and social skills groups
Confusion about assessment coding strucutre. What does “exposure” mean?

18. ABA coding: Where we are
Outcomes of the February 2017 CPT Editorial Panel meeting:
8 codes approved as Category I (97151 – 97158)
2 modified codes to remain Category III (0362T, 0373T)
All other Category III codes for adaptive behavior services go away
Effective January 1, 2019!!!

19. What does it mean to have Category I codes?
Category III CPT codes
are temporary and for new or emerging services, so some payers do not adopt them while others impose their own definitions and interpretations.
signify only that there is some evidence of clinical efficacy and of “evolving clinical utilization”
Category I CPT codes
are permanent
signify that
the clinical efficacy of the services has been documented in research that meets rigorous AMA standards
The services are performed by many physicians or other qualified healthcare professionals and are consistent with current medical practice

20. What does it mean to have Category I codes?
For the 8 Category I codes for adaptive behavior services, there should be
More uniform and consistent adherence to the descriptors as approved by the CPT Editorial Panel
Fewer denials of coverage for ABA services on the false premise that they are “experimental,” “unproven,” or “not medically necessary.”

22. 2019 ABA Codes: Assessment / Reassessment Codes
Category I / III CPT® codes for adaptive behavior services 2019
Descriptor
Code
Time/units
Attended by
Behavior identification assessment, administered by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional, each 15 minutes of the physician’s or other qualified healthcare professional’s time face-to-face with patient and/or guardian(s)/caregiver(s) administering assessments and discussing findings and recommendations, and non-face-to-face analyzing past data, scoring/interpreting the assessment, and preparing the report/treatment plan
97151
per 15 minutes
client, QHP3
Behavior identification supporting assessment, administered by one technician under the direction of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional, face-to-face with the patient, each 15 minutes
97152
client, technician (QHP3 may substitute for the technician)
Behavior identification supporting assessment, each 15 minutes of technicians’ time face-to-face with a patient, requiring the following components:
administered by the physician or other qualified healthcare professional who is on site4;
with the assistance of two or more technicians;
for a patient who exhibits destructive behavior;
completed in an environment that is customized to the patient’s behavior.
0362T
client and 2 or more technicians; QHP3

23. 2019 Category I ABA Codes: Treatment Codes
Category I / III CPT® codes for adaptive behavior services 2019
Descriptor
Code
Time/units
Attended by
Adaptive behavior treatment by protocol, administered by technician under the direction of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional, face-to-face with one patient, each 15 minutes
97153
per 15 minutes
client, technician (QHP3 may substitute for the technician)
Adaptive behavior treatment with protocol modification, administered by physician or other qualified healthcare professional, which may include simultaneous direction of technician, face-to-face with one patient, each 15 minutes
97155
client, QHP3; may include technician and/or caregiver
Adaptive behavior treatment with protocol modification, each 15 minutes of technicians’ time face-to-face with a patient, requiring the following components:
administered by the physician or other qualified healthcare professional who is on site4;
with the assistance of two or more technicians;
for a patient who exhibits destructive behavior;
completed in an environment that is customized, to the patient’s behavior.
0373T
client and 2 or more technicians; QHP3 on site

24. 2019 Category I ABA Codes: Group Codes
Category I / III CPT® codes for adaptive behavior services 2019
Descriptor
Code
Time/units
Attended by
Group adaptive behavior treatment by protocol, administered by technician under the direction of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional, face-to-face with two or more patients, each 15 minutes
97154
per 15 minutes
2 or more clients, technician (QHP3 may substitute for technician)
Group adaptive behavior treatment with protocol modification, administered by physician or other qualified healthcare professional, face-to-face with multiple patients, each 15 minutes
97158
2 or more clients & QHP3

25. 2019 Category I ABA Codes: Family Codes
Category I / III CPT® codes for adaptive behavior services 2019
Descriptor
Code
Time/units
Attended by
Family adaptive behavior treatment guidance, administered by physician or other qualified healthcare professional (with or without the patient present), face-to-face with guardian(s)/caregiver(s), each 15 minutes
97156
per 15 minutes
caregiver & QHP3
Multiple-family group adaptive behavior treatment guidance, administered by physician or other qualified healthcare professional (without the patient present), face-to-face with multiple sets of guardians/caregivers, each 15 minutes
97157
caregivers of 2 or more clients & QHP3

26. Some important differences between the 2014 Category III and 2019 Category I/III codes
No add-on codes, so smaller code set (10 vs. 16)
All codes are timed, in 15-min increments
No code(s) for indirect services are allowed by CPT, but
97151 (behavior identification assessment by QHP) includes both face-to-face time with client to conduct assessments and time without client present to analyze and interpret assessment results and prepare initial treatment plan or progress report

27. Steering Committee Efforts
Distribution of a coding crosswalk table showing how the new Category III codes were intended to be used. This is now updated to convert Cat III codes to Cat I 2019 code set.
A survey was sent to over 31,068 ABA service agency administrators and practitioners to evaluate areas for improvement within the current code set.
Countless responses to member/constituent inquiries
Presentation of coding updates at annual conventions and numerous webinars
Constituent distributions to provide updates on the process
MUE edit letters to NCCI to rectify problematic coding caps
Development of implementation resources to help providers navigate implementation and negotiation of contracts with their payers.
Revision of the CPT® Assistant article on ABA codes to provide greater clarity on their intended use.

28. ABA Coding Resources: Development of a “Payer Packet”
Payer packet (in production)
Updated Coding Conversion Chart (released)
Template letter to payers announcing release of new code set and requesting timelines / process for implementation (released Sept 18’)
Valuation crosswalk tables to assist with payers who will require MPFS coding crosswalks with submitted claims – using comparisons to other “like” services’ relative value units (RVUs)to establish ABA code reimbursement
Includes instructions and information on using comparator codes and relative value units (RVUs) for other similar services to establish reimbursement rates for 2019 adaptive behavior services codes

29. What you should do to prepare
Educate payers
Alert your payers about the new codes!
Use the code conversion table and other resources from our Steering Committee to work with payers to achieve consistent use of the 2019 code set.
If you haven’t already, give providers the BACB’s ASD treatment guidelines and APBA’s white paper “Identifying Applied Behavior Analysis Interventions”
Obtain accurate MUEs for the new codes.

30. What you should do to prepare
Review your contracts. Know your payer policies and requirements for medical necessity and coverage of ABA services as well as the terms for modification of your agreements.
Compliance with contract provisions and payer requirements regarding claims documentation is essential, especially in light of recent billing fraud cases and heightened scrutiny of billing for ABA services.
Ask questions! Engage a knowledgeable consultant or national organization to assist you in the transition (i.e. understanding the new codes, implementing them into your EMR, etc.)
Prepare for disruption to revenue. It often takes payers about a quarter to update their EMRs after new codes are released on January 1, so prepare to weather the storm.

31. What you should do to prepare
Calculate the value (rates) for your services. Consider all components of each service (overhead, practice expenses, technology, liability insurance, etc.) Include the services of both technicians and behavior analysts for codes that involve the work of both; don’t set a flat rate.
Use the resources provided by our Steering Committee and other publicly available information, but take care to do that “homework” independently of other providers so as to comply with antitrust laws.
Negotiate! It may not always seem like it, but rates in your contracts are always negotiable. Start early dialogue with payers!

32. Questions???