What Is in AHA’s Coding Clinic for HCPCS Third Quarter 2025 Release?

3 minute read

The Third Quarter 2025 issue of the AHA Coding Clinic for HCPCS newsletter was released September 19, 2025. Let’s explore some of the highlights!

Cryoneurolysis  

The third quarter newsletter is 19 pages long and begins with an outline of the new cryoneurolysis code that went into effect January 1, 2025. Cryoneurolysis is minimally invasive and is used as a non-opioid treatment for peripheral nerve pain. A new code was created as part of CMS’s implementation of the Non-Opioids Prevention Addiction in the National (NOPAIN) Act. Cryoneurolysis is effective at temporarily treating post-surgical pain.  

CPT Surgery Section Update 2025: Digestive and urinary systems

Digestive system: Abdomen, peritoneum, and omentum

In the Digestive system, three category III codes were deleted, and five new codes have been established to capture the open surgical excision or destruction of intra-abdominal primary or secondary tumor(s) or cyst(s).  

Urinary system: Introduction and urethra

In the Urinary System section, three new codes were added. For additional guidance, please refer to the current CPT codebook and CPT Assistant, November 2024, Pages 11-14.  

For Your Information

HCPCS Level II Codes

The newsletter addresses a subset of the new, deleted, and revised HCPCS Level II codes effective July 1, 2025, including:

• 45 new HCPCS Level II codes,
• 17 deleted HCPCS Level II codes, and  
• 4 revised HCPCS Level II codes.  

The newsletter also provides details on 1 new CPT code for the influenza virus vaccine effective May 9, 2025.  

CPT Category III Codes

The newsletter also provides details on a subset of the Category III codes effective January 1, 2026, including:

• 2 revised codes, and
• 38 new codes.  

New CPT PLA Codes

Finally, the newsletter provides an overview of the recent changes to the CPT Proprietary Laboratory Analyses (PLA) codes, including:

• 25 new codes,  
• 2 deleted codes, and  
• 2 revised codes.  

These changes have an effective date of October 1, 2025.  

For a full listing of the code changes, see the HCPCS Quarterly Update file.

Ask the Editor

The newsletter includes coding advice for 8 questions on the following topics:

• Modifier PT and HCPCS Level II code C9779
• Reporting CPT codes 15853 and 15854
• Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion with Trans-Arterial Administration of Melphalan
• Nasal Endoscopy with Hemorrhage Control
• Hidradenitis Suppurativa
• Shoulder Arthroscopy with Bioinductive Implant
• Decompression of the Femoral and Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerves
• Supraclavicular Block

Please refer to the CPT codebook for additional and comprehensive reporting guidelines and the full list of the code changes on CMS’s website.  

As always, please read the Third Quarter 2025 volume of AHA Coding Clinic for HCPCS entirely for the best source of medical coding information.