New for 2020: Suite of CPT codes cover digital, patient-initiated E/M services

Why This Topic Matters

The article matters because it summarizes a notable CPT change affecting how online, patient-initiated E/M activity is captured for coding and documentation purposes. Understanding the update helps organizations align billing workflows, documentation practices, and professional scope-of-practice considerations.

Article Sections

1. Overview of the 2020 CPT update

   Introduces the new digital, patient-initiated E/M service category and explains its general purpose and effective date.

2. Documentation and reporting considerations

   Covers the broad documentation themes, time tracking, and general circumstances that affect whether the service is reported separately or combined with later care.

3. Additional codes and considerations

   Discusses the related CPT additions for qualified nonphysician healthcare professionals and the parallel reporting framework associated with those services.

4. Coding case scenario

   Presents a practical scenario used to illustrate application of the new CPT guidance in a patient-initiated digital communication context.