Counseling and/or Coordination of Care (October 1998)

Why This Topic Matters

Accurate E/M selection depends on recognizing when time becomes the controlling factor and on documenting the encounter appropriately. This article helps readers understand a common coding scenario that can affect level selection for office and other face-to-face visits.

Article Sections

1. October 1998 page 5

   Introductory coding communication for the issue page and topic area.

2. Selecting the Appropriate Level

   Overview of how evaluation and management level selection is generally determined and when time-based selection becomes relevant.

3. Learning by Example

   Introduction to illustrative scenarios showing the general application of the topic to patient encounters.

4. Example 1

   First sample encounter involving an established patient and a counseling-heavy follow-up visit.

5. Coding the Example

   Discussion of the coding approach for the first sample scenario.

6. Example 2

   Second sample encounter involving a patient with chronic conditions and extended counseling during the visit.

7. Coding the Example

   Discussion of the coding approach for the second sample scenario.

8. Summing up

   Closing summary of the article’s general message about time-based E/M selection and documentation.