Pediatric Mental Health

The AAP Committee on Coding and Nomenclature (COCN) reviews proposed changes to CPT and ICD-10-CM coding structures to determine whether the Academy will endorse the proposal. It participates in the American Medical Association/Specialty Society Relative Value Scale Update Committee’s (RUC) survey process by validating clinical vignettes, evaluating survey data, and deciding on physician work and practice expense relative value units (RVUs) to recommend to the RUC. The COCN also serves as a review panel regarding other activities such as identifying Academy positions on the RBRVS. It monitors the Medicare RBRVS physician fee schedule and its adoption by private and public payers.

To update pediatricians on its activities, including the formal publication of new and revised CPT and ICD-10-CM coding structures and final values for CPT codes used by pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists, the COCN publishes periodic articles in AAP News along with a monthly coding column called Coding Corner.