PHYSICIANS: No E/M Coding Changes Until 2006

Why This Topic Matters

The piece helps readers understand a proposed change to E/M coding methodology, the reasons it was deferred, and the broader issue of how coding standards can be measured and audited reliably.

Article Sections

1. Clinical examples and the E/M coding delay

   This section discusses the proposed transition away from the existing E/M guideline framework and the delay in implementation. It summarizes the broader concerns raised about how the new approach would function in practice.

2. Auditability and subjectivity concerns

   This section focuses on comments from industry sources about the challenges of reviewing case scenarios and comparing them consistently. It addresses the need for a usable method for oversight and validation.

3. Proposed direction for the revised approach

   This section describes the idea that the eventual framework may combine different types of evaluation methods. It presents the general direction discussed for the next version of the system.