Specialty Spotlight: Make a Pain-Free Transition to 2021 Time Guidelines

Why This Topic Matters

Pain management coders must adapt to revised office and outpatient E/M guidance beginning in 2021. Understanding the scope of the change helps readers assess documentation readiness and recognize why accurate time tracking and payer-specific review remain important.

Article Sections

1. The Scenario

   Introduces a pain management office visit scenario involving a new patient referral and the surrounding clinical context. The example sets up the documentation and coding issues discussed later in the article.

2. Coding

   Discusses the coding perspective for the scenario under the updated office and outpatient E/M framework. The section focuses on how the 2021 approach differs from the prior year and what information must be supported in the record.