2021 E/M update: The three elements of MDM: Examine the levels of ‘problems addressed’

Why This Topic Matters

Coders and practice staff need a clear understanding of how the 2021 E/M updates affect office visit code selection, especially when documentation and decision-making elements are weighed differently. The article is useful for orthopedic practices looking to understand the general structure of the updated MDM approach.

Article Sections

1. Defining ‘problems addressed’

   Introduces the 2021 E/M concept of a problem and describes the general idea of when a problem is considered addressed during an encounter.

2. A closer look at the 4 levels of problems addressed

   Summarizes the broad problem-level categories used in the updated MDM framework and discusses how those categories are presented in the office visit guidance.

3. Consider these examples

   Presents orthopedic-oriented scenario summaries used to illustrate how encounters are discussed within the article's problem-level framework.

4. Editor’s note

   Provides source and publication context for the article and related reference material.