CPT Code 99202: Office Visit, New Patient, Low Complexity

The difference between CPT codes 99202 and 99203 primarily lies in the complexity of the visit and the level of history and examination performed. Code 99202 is used for a new patient visit involving an expanded problem-focused history and exam with straightforward medical decision-making, typically lasting about 20 minutes and addressing low-complexity issues. In contrast, 99203 requires a detailed history and exam with low-complexity medical decision-making, usually for moderate severity problems, and typically takes 30 to 44 minutes.

An example of a 99202 visit might be a new patient presenting with a single minor complaint requiring a focused evaluation and simple treatment plan.

The difference between CPT 99201 and 99202 is that 99201, which was used for minimal-complexity visits, has been removed from the CPT code set as of 2021. This makes 99202 the lowest-level new patient visit code currently in use. It requires an expanded problem-focused history and exam with straightforward decision-making.