Post-op E/M visits fall sharply in wake of COVID incursion

Why This Topic Matters

Postoperative E/M reporting can be affected by major utilization changes, public health disruptions, and specialty-specific practice patterns. Understanding broad claims trends helps coding and revenue cycle teams benchmark volume shifts and monitor how postoperative encounter reporting changes over time.

Article Sections

1. Claims trends for postoperative encounters

   This section summarizes broad Medicare claims and payment changes for separately reported postoperative patient encounters during the COVID-19 public health emergency. It compares trends across office, inpatient, and critical care settings.

2. Specialty reporting patterns

   This section identifies the specialties most frequently reporting a key postoperative office visit service and highlights how reporting patterns varied by specialty.