Source: Emily Hill, PA, AAPM Coding Consultant
Date: January 10, 2018

The Coding and Reimbursement Committee has updated the coding information available on the AAPM website. New charts have been posted that include information concerning Medicare’s 2018 Relative Value Units (RVUs) for codes commonly reported by Pain Medicine Physicians. The title page provides links to CMS web pages that provide additional information and outlines the basis for the 2018 reimbursement rates.

The charts are organized according to the type of service (e.g. E/M, injections, radiology) with new and revised codes highlighted. As appropriate, some charts contain information indicating which codes include imaging guidance as well as which codes can be reported with the bilateral modifier. There is also a separate chart that lists all the new and revised codes for 2018. There were no significant changes impacting Pain Medicine Physicians.

The Relative Value Units in the charts reflect the combined RVUs for physician work, practice expense and professional liability (total RVUs). RVUs in the “facility” column are used to calculate payments in the hospital or other facility setting. RVUs in the “non-facility” column are used for services provided in a physician office.

View the charts of Common Pain Medicine Codes (login required)…