CommercialBilling CodesMedium impact
PAP416 - Trauma Center Designation and Payment Policy - Update CPT code 99288 to 99285 to remove the status B codes.
Blue Cross of Idaho·ID · Emergency Medicine, Critical Care, General Surgery·Coding
We identified it
Sep 29, 2026
Summary
Blue Cross of Idaho updated PAP416 to change the CPT code used for Critical Access Hospital trauma activation billing from 99288 to 99285. This affects how CAHs bill for emergency room services associated with trauma activations and requires billing system updates to reflect the correct code in claim submissions.
Action Required
Billing team must immediately update all billing software, claim submission templates, and billing guidance documents to replace CPT code 99288 with CPT code 99285 for Critical Access Hospital trauma activation claims. Verify this change in the billing system for all CAH trauma-related encounters. Audit any claims submitted with code 99288 after the policy revision date (July 2023) and resubmit with corrected code 99285 if denied or pending. Notify all Critical Access Hospital providers in network of this coding change.