On Demand: 2026 CPT Coding and MPFS Final Rule Changes: Impacts to Cardiovascular Services-Webinar Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

In this comprehensive boot camp session, Nicole Knight, EVP of Revenue Cycle Solutions and Care Transformation Teams, and Jolene Bruder, manager of Surgical Coding Division, provide an extensive overview of the 2026 cardiovascular CPT coding changes and the impacts of the final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Outpatient Hospital System (OPS) and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) rules. Key topics include significant revisions and expansions in coronary intervention and lower extremity revascularization codes, telehealth extensions, and new direct supervision provisions. <br /><br />Physician reimbursement is expected to increase modestly (~1%), with notable decreases in facility-based cardiology services and mixed impacts based on the service mix. New CPT codes replace older branch and extension codes in coronary and peripheral vascular interventions, emphasizing precise documentation of lesion complexity, location, and lesion type (stenosis vs. occlusion). Updated coding also recognizes separate vessels within territorial interventions and introduces new codes for mechanical aspiration thrombectomy and remote patient monitoring services.<br /><br />Surgical coding saw major changes in endovascular thoracic aortic repair (EVAR), including bundled cath placements and new codes for thoracic branch endografts. Lower extremity revascularization sees the replacement of 16 codes with 46 new procedural codes, necessitating detailed provider documentation for appropriate coding and reimbursement. Category III codes for emerging technologies, such as cardiac contractility modulation devices and wireless IVC sensors, highlight ongoing technological advances.<br /><br />Additional discussions cover clarifications on coding nuances, such as branches recognition, integration with quality registries like NCDR, and the importance of provider education to align clinical documentation with coding requirements. Future sessions will delve deeper into lower extremity vascular and coronary PCI coding, telehealth, and AI-driven coding changes. Attendees are encouraged to review updated materials, register individually for CEUs, and engage with ongoing educational resources.

Keywords

2026 cardiovascular CPT coding changes

Medicare Physician Fee Schedule

Outpatient Hospital System rules

Ambulatory Surgical Center rules

coronary intervention codes

lower extremity revascularization codes

telehealth extensions

direct supervision provisions

physician reimbursement changes

endovascular thoracic aortic repair

Category III emerging technology codes

provider documentation and education