OIG 2011 Work Plan focuses on E/M services

Why This Topic Matters

It helps practices understand where federal auditors are directing attention so they can assess internal documentation, coding, and billing processes at a high level. The article is useful for planning compliance reviews and education related to physician services under Medicare.

Article Sections

1. E/M services as a Work Plan focus

   Introduces the article’s main topic and explains why physician evaluation and management services are part of the audit and review agenda.

2. Coding trends in E/M visits

   Discusses the general scrutiny of coding patterns for physician visits and the interest in how patterns may vary by provider characteristics.

3. Documentation and payment review

   Addresses documentation practices under review, including concerns involving repeated note patterns and electronic record-related payment issues.

4. E/M services during the global surgical period

   Summarizes the planned review of physician visit services provided around surgical episodes and the broader Medicare global surgery context.

5. Other OIG review areas

   Covers additional audit topics mentioned in the article, including diagnostic testing, place-of-service reporting, and related Medicare payment oversight.