Final answer:
In 2010, Medicare stopped paying for all consultation CPT codes from the Medicine section, except for G-codes. This required healthcare providers to use alternative codes for consultation billing. The change was initiated to streamline billing and ensure payment consistency based on patient care complexity.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2010, Medicare stopped paying for all consultation CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes from the Medicine section except for G-codes. CPT codes are a set of medical codes used to report diagnostics, treatments, and procedures for billing purposes. G-codes are Medicare-specific codes used to report services not represented by CPT codes.
This change meant that healthcare providers had to adjust their billing practices accordingly and use alternative codes such as E/M (Evaluation and Management) codes for consultations.
It was part of a larger effort to streamline billing and prevent discrepancies in payment across various medical settings. This change aimed to create consistency and ensure that payments were based on the complexity of patient care rather than the setting in which the care was provided.