Coding errors dropping, but E/M still troublesome

Why This Topic Matters

It helps readers understand where coding and documentation problems are improving, where they persist, and how CMS is measuring payment accuracy over time.

Article Sections

1. CMS CERT results and overall error-rate trends

   Summarizes recent CERT findings, including changes in the overall error rate and how those results compare with CMS benchmarks over time.

2. Main sources of improper payments

   Describes the broad categories that most often drive payment errors and notes changes seen in those areas across reporting periods.

3. Evaluation and management services most often billed in error

   Reviews the evaluation and management services highlighted in the report as frequent sources of billing errors and discusses the general pattern of those errors.

4. Improper payment totals and Medicare payment growth

   Presents broader payment figures from the CERT analysis, including total improper payments and overall Medicare spending changes.

5. Overpayments and underpayments in the CERT report

   Explains how the report distinguishes between overpayments and underpayments and places those figures in a multi-year context.