E/M 2023: Navigate new combo observation/inpatient codes

Why This Topic Matters

The changes affect how hospital observation and inpatient encounters are reported and how related services are grouped or separated. Understanding the update helps coding teams prepare for new CPT descriptors, revised guidelines, and possible payer-policy mismatch.

Article Sections

1. Overview of the 2023 E/M update

   Introduces the broad changes coming to hospital-related E/M reporting and the move toward coding based on MDM or time.

2. Take a closer look

   Describes the code-set restructuring for observation and inpatient hospital services and summarizes the related descriptor and guideline changes.

3. MDM table takes updates

   Reviews updates to the MDM guidance and table, including hospital-specific examples and revisions to risk and problem-complexity language.

4. Other E/M services will be unbundled

   Explains the policy discussion around separately reporting other E/M encounters that lead to admission or observation status and notes the difference between AMA and CMS approaches.

5. Resources

   Lists reference materials related to the 2023 CPT guidance and the proposed Medicare physician fee schedule.