Requesting Payers Compensate Physicians for Public Health Emergency Support

On November 10, 2020, the Spine Intervention Society joined the call from the American Medical Association urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), and major commercial health plans (i.e., Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, Health Care Service Corporation, Humana and UnitedHealthcare) to immediately implement and pay for CPT code 99072.

The AMA CPT Editorial Panel approved this code to help address the significant fiscal pressures placed on physicians by the COVID-19 pandemic. The code will allow the reporting of the additional supplies, materials, and clinical staff time over and above the practice expense(s) included in an office visit or other non-facility service(s) when performed during a public health emergency (PHE), as defined by law, due to respiratory-transmitted infectious disease.

SIS only holds a seat at the AMA CPT panel by proving that a high percentage of SIS members also maintain AMA membership. To assure that the voice of interventional pain specialists continues to be heard, SIS urges all members to maintain their membership in the AMA.  

Need clarification on how to code your practice's procedures? SIS members may submit billing and coding questions here (🔒Members Only).