Evaluation and Management: Prepare for 2021 E/M Changes That Will Affect Your Surgery Practice

Why This Topic Matters

The changes discussed may affect how office and outpatient visits are documented, reported, and reimbursed. Practices need early awareness to prepare workflows, coding processes, and financial planning for the updated E/M framework.

Article Sections

1. You Should Be Doing This Now

   Current documentation-related changes that practices are expected to review before the main E/M overhaul takes effect. The section focuses on who may document certain history elements and related workflow considerations.

2. Prepare for 2021 Changes

   A summary of the upcoming E/M framework for office and outpatient services. It covers the general shift in how visit levels will be determined and the related CPT and CMS updates.

3. Preview Pay Changes

   Discussion of anticipated reimbursement effects associated with the revised E/M structure. The section addresses broader payment implications and budget-neutrality considerations.

4. Check Out This Example

   A case-based comparison illustrating how the evolving E/M framework affects office visit reporting. The section uses a sample surgical scenario to show the type of documentation themes addressed in the article.