Vignettes

Article Overview

This article reviews discussion of HCFA’s draft evaluation and management documentation guidelines and the feedback received from the Practicing Physicians Advisory Council and physician groups. It focuses on broad areas such as the proposed use of vignettes, history and review-of-systems documentation, medical decision-making structure, emergency department exceptions, pilot testing, and claims review concerns. The piece is relevant to physicians, coders, compliance staff, and practice administrators tracking E/M guideline development and its potential impact on documentation and audit practices.