February 18, 2022 | By Stephanie Allard, CPC, CEMA, RHIT When x-rays are audited on the same date as an E/M encounter we have one of three decisions to make about the work that went into the radiological exam when the practice owns x-ray equipment and does their own interpretations internally. First, we must…
December 24, 2021 | By Grant Huang, CPMA, CPC The 2021 E/M guidelines’ more permissive rules for time-based coding is a potential watershed moment for physicians who want to spend less of their time documenting E/M notes. But if we interpret these changes to mean that the longstanding concept of “medical necessity” can be…
November 26, 2021 | By Toni Elhoms, CCS, CPC, CPMA, CRC As I am sure many of my colleagues can relate, I have frequently heard statements like, “All my E/M services are coded based on time because it’s just easier” or “I add total time to all my notes just to cover my bases”.…
May 14, 2021 | By Jill Young, CPC, CEDC, CIMC The time has come for you to consider the “new time” method to determine the evaluation and management (E&M) coding for your office and other outpatient services. I use the phrase “new time” to differentiate it from the “old time” concept you are accustomed…
February 12, 2021 | By Pam Vanderbilt, CPC, CPMA, CPPM, CPC-I, CEMC, CEMA, CEMA-O A few weeks ago, NAMAS presented a webinar about 2021 time and prolonged services. The flood of participant questions made it very obvious there is still uncertainty about how to appropriately use time to select the level of office…