decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2012 Issue 5 (May)
Ensure justified high-level E/M billing, yet don’t overreact to OIG coding trends report
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article reviews an HHS Office of the Inspector General report on trends in higher-level evaluation and management billing and explains why the findings should be viewed cautiously. It is aimed at physicians, coders, billers, compliance staff, and practice managers who oversee E/M documentation, audit readiness, and Medicare-related review risk. The discussion focuses on general oversight themes, EHR documentation concerns, medical necessity checks, and practice-level steps to support appropriate E/M level selection without overreacting to the report.
Why This Topic Matters
Rising scrutiny of evaluation and management coding can affect audit risk, documentation practices, and Medicare review exposure. Understanding the report’s context helps practices improve compliance and avoid unnecessary concern or overcorrection.
What You Will Learn
- How an OIG report can influence attention to higher-level evaluation and management billing
- Why audit preparedness matters even when no improper billing is identified
- How documentation patterns and EHR use can affect evaluation and management level selection
- What general practice-level steps are used to support defensible E/M billing
Who Should Read This
- Physicians
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- Compliance officers
- Practice managers
- Auditors
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com