CDT Code Set May Receive Significant Revamp

According to a recent article in the ADA News, the American Dental Association Council on Dental Benefit Programs is currently evaluating the CDT code set and may seek to make significant changes to the way codes themselves are structured. This may be in the form of greatly increasing the number of codes or using modifiers to the existing codes to make reporting more accurate and specific. Details like what materials were used or what steps were taken could be reflected in the proposed enhanced code set.

The Enhanced CDT Code Task Force, created by the ADA Board of Trustees, has been taking suggestions and soliciting feedback on how best to rework the code set though written submission and with a series of listening sessions. They are trying to learn how the CDT in its current form is working or not working (and asking for examples), whether adding more codes or using code modifiers make the most sense, and what educational support would be required to successfully implement the changes. Most of this solicitation will be complete by the time of this publication, but further information can be found on the ADA website at https://www.ada.org/ publications/cdt, by emailing dentalcode@ada.org, or by phone from 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday, at 800.621.8099.

The CDT code set has not had a structural enhancement of this kind since it was first published in 1969. Rest assured, no matter what changes happen to the code set, Practice Booster will be there to keep you updated and will provide resources and training to help you implement the updates.

Sources:

https://www.ada.org/publications/ada-news/2021/ december/task-force-soliciting-dental-communityinput-on-enhancing-cdt-code#.Ybfv7tpfYac.link