Preventive Medicine Services (May 2002)

Why This Topic Matters

The article addresses common areas of confusion in preventive medicine coding and explains the relationship between preventive visits, separately reported ancillary services, and concurrent problem-oriented E/M services. It helps readers interpret the 2002 guidance in a way that supports accurate claim reporting and documentation review.

Article Sections

1. May 2002 pages 1-4

   Introduces the article’s time frame and source context.

2. Preventive Medicine Services

   Explains the 2002 guidance for preventive medicine E/M services, including the general scope of the service, related ancillary reporting, and the relationship to other E/M services.

3. New Patient

   Presents a preventive medicine example for an initial visit and identifies the general coding context discussed with it.

4. Established Patient

   Presents a preventive medicine example for a periodic visit and identifies the general coding context discussed with it.

5. Clinical Vignettes for Preventive Medicine Services

   Introduces example scenarios used to illustrate preventive medicine reporting in different clinical settings.

6. Gynecology, Family Practice and Internal Medicine

   Discusses a women’s health example that combines preventive medicine with a separately addressed problem-oriented service.

7. Discussion

   Summarizes the reporting considerations associated with the gynecology example and related diagnosis coding context.

8. Family Practice and Internal Medicine

   Describes a periodic preventive medicine example involving ongoing medical conditions and concurrent evaluation and management services.

9. Discussion

   Summarizes the reporting considerations associated with the established-patient internal medicine example and related diagnosis coding context.

10. Pediatrics and Family Practice

    Presents a pediatric preventive medicine example that also includes additional problem-oriented evaluation and treatment.

11. Discussion

    Summarizes the reporting considerations associated with the pediatric example and related diagnosis coding context.