Reader Questions: Interpretation Does Not Equal Established Patient

Article Overview

This reader Q&A discusses whether a physician’s prior diagnostic test interpretation for a patient changes how a later face-to-face encounter should be classified. It is relevant to coders, billers, and physician practices working with evaluation and management services, Medicare guidance, and patient status determinations. The article also references Medicare policy language and compares broader reimbursement implications tied to office/outpatient visit categories.