The 2021 changes to office and other outpatient E/M services were significant. Although simplified from prior guidelines, they still raised questions and concerns.
Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) changes coming in 2023 are expected to bring similar guideline changes for most E/M service codes that are currently selected based on key components (history, examination, and MDM) or typical time (allowed only when more than 50% of the face-to-face or unit/floor time was spent in counseling and/or coordination of care).
This article reviews some key points from the current office E/M guidelines, including
The current office E/M guidelines remove the levels of history and examination from code selection. Additionally, the new guidelines provide recognition of the time physicians spend before and after a face-to-face E/M service but on the same date. Physicians and other qualified health care professionals (QHPs) have 2 options for code selection.
Both are significant departures...
