Part B Coding Coach: Add This E/M Overview to Your Resources

Why This Topic Matters

Office and outpatient E/M coding changed significantly in 2021, affecting how clinicians and coders evaluate visit level and documentation. Understanding the revised framework helps users update reference materials, support compliant code selection, and align workflow with current guidance.

Article Sections

1. Overview of the 2021 office/outpatient E/M updates

   Introduces the scope of the changes that took effect for office and outpatient E/M services. Provides context for why the update is important for coding resources and workflow.

2. Changes affecting new patient office/outpatient code structure

   Discusses the revision to the new patient code set and the removal of one code from use. Explains the broader impact on the code family without detailing selection logic.

3. Expanded roles for time and medical decision making

   Covers the shift in how office and outpatient E/M levels are determined. Summarizes the general concepts behind time-based and complexity-based selection in the revised framework.

4. New definitions of time for office/outpatient encounters

   Reviews how encounter time is described under the updated guidance. Identifies the categories of work that may be considered in the broader timing framework.

5. Revised E/M descriptor language

   Notes that the remaining office and outpatient E/M descriptors were updated and that their wording changed. Focuses on the overall documentation implications of the revised language.