CDA: Prepare for CDT 2020 dental code changes

Is your practice prepared for the additions, revisions, and deletions that will go into effect on January 1, 2020, to the Codes on Dental Procedures and Nomenclature (CDT)? The new year will bring 37 new and five revised codes, plus six deleted codes.

While dental plans are required to recognize current CDT codes, it is important to keep in mind they are not required to pay for or provide benefits for the new or revised codes. Dentists should review each dental plan's payment and processing guidelines to determine whether benefits will be payable. Typically, plans will start sending updates about policy changes for the new year in late October and early November.

New procedure codes

The new procedure codes being introduced in 2020 are listed below.

CDT code revisions

There will be three code revisions (see table below) and two site changes.

In addition, there will be periodontal category descriptor revisions.

The site changes include the following:

• If two contiguous teeth have areas of soft-tissue recession, each area of recession tooth is a single site.
• Depending on the dimensions of the defect, up to two contiguous edentulous tooth positions may be considered a single site.

CDT code deletions

There are also six code deletions scheduled for 2020.

There are also 15 editorial actions that clarify without changing the CDT Code entry's purpose or scope, such as to syntax and spelling. The CDA encourages all billing dentists to obtain a current copy of the ADA CDT 2020 procedure codes, which are available for purchase through the ADA website. It is recommended that all dental offices have a current copy to assist with proper claim billing.

Additionally, when coding, dentists must code for the work that was done, not for what is covered under the patient's benefit plan.

DrBicuspid.com wishes to thank the California Dental Association (CDA) for allowing us to reprint this article, which originally appeared on the CDA website.