AMA CPT® Assistant - 2020 Issue 3 (March)
E/M Office or Other Outpatient Visit Revisions for 2021: Time (March 2020)
March 2020 pages 3-5 E/M Office or Other Outpatient Visit Revisions for 2021: Time For Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) 2021, the office or other outpatient visit evaluation and management (E/M) guidelines and code descriptors will be significantly revised. Due to the widespread use of these codes and the scope of the changes, information is being distributed early to facilitate familiarization in advance of the effective date. Note: Throughout this article series, revised guidelines and descriptors for CPT codes 99202-99205 and 99211-99215 are referenced. It is important to note that further CPT Editorial Panel or Executive Committee actions may...
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Article Overview
This article reviews the March 2020 CPT Assistant guidance on upcoming 2021 changes to office and other outpatient evaluation and management services, with emphasis on time-based code selection and related documentation concepts. It is intended for coders, billers, and clinical documentation staff who need to understand how the revised CPT framework applies across outpatient E/M services and how it differs from other E/M categories.
Why This Topic Matters
The article matters because it previews significant CPT E/M revisions before the effective date, helping practices prepare for updated reporting and documentation expectations. It also clarifies which outpatient E/M services are affected and highlights the broader context of time calculation across multiple E/M service groups.
Article Sections
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March 2020 pages 3-5
Introductory material identifying the publication timing and the overall topic of the article series.
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Background
An overview of the CPT Editorial Panel actions and the general scope of the 2021 outpatient E/M revisions.
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Revision Overview
A summary of the shift in outpatient E/M code selection concepts and the timing-related changes discussed in the article.
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Time Calculation: Activities Included
A list of broad activity categories that are part of total time under the revised outpatient E/M framework.
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Clinical Staff Time and E/M Code Selection
Discussion of how clinical staff time is treated in relation to physician or other QHP time for outpatient E/M reporting.
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Time Calculation for Split/Shared Visits: Distinct Time
An explanation of how distinct time is handled when a physician and other QHP jointly provide visit-related work.
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Definitions of Time Across E/M Code Groups
A comparison of how time definitions are addressed across outpatient E/M services and other E/M categories.
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Table 1: CPT E/M Office or Other Outpatient Visits: Time Comparison
A comparison table showing pre-2021 and 2021 time concepts for office and other outpatient visit codes.
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Table 2: E/M 2021—Time Calculations by E/M Code Category
A table outlining time-calculation concepts across multiple E/M service groupings and related activity types.
What You Will Learn
- What the article covers in the 2021 CPT outpatient E/M update
- How time-based reporting is being revised for office and other outpatient visits
- Which broader E/M code groups are compared in the article
- What types of documentation and time concepts are discussed
- How the article frames split/shared visit time and clinical staff involvement
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Outpatient billing staff
- Physician practices
- Clinical documentation specialists
- Revenue cycle teams
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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