decisionhealth Newsletters, Answer Books - 2008 Issue 12 (December)
Answer_Book / Evaluation_and_Management_Services / _Document_patient_phone_calls_to_bill_higher_E_M_service
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Article Overview
This Find-A-Code article discusses the role of patient phone calls in evaluation and management documentation, focusing on how careful recording of phone conversations may support the level of service reported at a subsequent visit. It also addresses practice policy considerations, liability concerns, and why these interactions are handled differently in routine billing contexts. The content is aimed at physicians, nurses, coders, billers, and practice managers who want to understand the documentation value of telephone communication without relying on the full paid article.
Why This Topic Matters
Telephone encounters are common in outpatient practice, but they are often underdocumented. Understanding how they may influence later E/M reporting can help practices improve documentation quality, support compliant billing, and reduce risk.
What You Will Learn
- Why documenting patient phone calls can matter for later visit documentation
- How telephone communication relates to evaluation and management service levels
- Why practices may want a clearer policy for handling calls without visits
- How phone-call documentation can be relevant to care quality and liability awareness
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- Practice managers
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