2024 ASTRO Coding and Coverage Seminar - Radiation Oncology Coding Landscape and Prior Authorization

Topics Included:

1. Physician Supervision: Site of Service Distinctions and Recent Changes
This content explores Supervision policies as they apply in both the hospital and freestanding settings. It addresses key questions that frequently arise and provides resources for establishing practice specific supervision policies.

2. Prior Authorization: Why It’s Gotten So bad and What We Are Doing About It
This content provides an overview of recent payer PA policy changes, provides tips for PA avoidance, as well as ASTRO's efforts to fight back against egregious PA policies and how you can get involved.

3. E&M Coding Update and NCCI PTP Edits & Coding Modifiers
This content provides an overview of key changes effective January 1, 2025, as well as reviews regular coding questions/areas of confusion. It also reviews how to understand the NCCI PTP edits in place and how to properly use coding modifiers for billing purposes.

This activity was originally presented and recorded at the 2024 ASTRO Coding and Coverage Seminar.

This activity is available from January 27, 2025, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 31, 2025.

Target Audience

This activity is designed to meet the interests of radiation oncologists, physicists, radiation therapists, radiation dosimetrists, practice administrators, certified coders and professional coders.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Describe the intricacies of the differing supervision levels and requirements.
  • Describe updated supervision rules based on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule 2024 final rule from CMS.
  • Make any necessary changes to current practice patterns if needed.
  • Identify when to correctly use audio/visual technologies for certain radiation oncology services.
  • Describe the current burden PA puts on physicians and practice staff.
  • Explain the impact of the 2024 Medicare Contract year final rule on prior authorization for Medicare Advantage plans.
  • Gain insight into ASTRO’s advocacy efforts to curb that burden and how they can get involved in advocacy efforts.
  • Identify how to successfully appeal inappropriate denials to private payors.
  • Properly code for consultations and follow-up visits.
  • Identify how to bill for the social determinants of health Z-codes.
  • Access the NCCI PTP edits files.
  • Apply coding modifiers correctly in specific clinical scenarios.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 1.50 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
01/27/2025
Course expires: 
03/31/2025
Cost:
$100.00
Rating: 
0

Faculty Disclosures

The person(s) above served as the developer(s) of this activity. Additionally, the Education Committee had control over the content of this activity. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Disclosure link: 
ASTRO Education Committee

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Available Credit

  • 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
  • 1.50 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Price

Cost:
$100.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.

  • Nonmember: $100
  • Member: $75
  • Member-in-Training: $35*
  • Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $35*

*Residents and Students can join ASTRO for free to receive the discounted rates.
Membership Application: https://www.astro.org/MyAstro/MyProfile/Membership-Application

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date.  

Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until March 31, 2025 regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date. 

Required Hardware/software

One of the two latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari.