Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2011 Issue 36
E/M Coding Quiz: Arm Yourself With Accurate E/M Knowledge
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article presents a short Medicare-focused E/M quiz for Part B coders and office staff. It covers common problem areas such as patient status determinations, encounters involving family members, what counts as prior professional services, and how to think about symptom-based diagnosis coding when the chart does not yet support a confirmed diagnosis. The content is aimed at people who bill or audit E/M services and want to compare their knowledge with Medicare guidance.
Why This Topic Matters
E/M billing questions often turn on small factual differences in patient relationship, service type, and documentation. Understanding these distinctions can help coders recognize when claims may be vulnerable to rejection and when broader Medicare guidance should be consulted.
Article Sections
-
Do Different Specialties Count?
Discusses Medicare patient status concerns in multi-specialty settings and the role of tax ID and provider matching in determining whether a visit may be treated as new.
-
Can You Report Family Visits?
Reviews Medicare billing questions related to encounters conducted with family members or other associates when the patient is absent or unable to participate normally.
-
What Constitutes 'Face to Face'?
Explains the general concept of prior professional services and how earlier non-visit interactions may affect whether a patient is considered new for office E/M reporting.
-
Is 'Likely' A Diagnosis?
Covers diagnosis coding considerations when documentation suggests a possible condition but the record does not support a confirmed diagnosis.
What You Will Learn
- How Medicare may view new patient status in multi-specialty practice settings
- When patient presence matters for office E/M reporting
- How prior professional services can affect a new patient designation
- How to think about symptom-based diagnosis coding when a diagnosis is not yet confirmed
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Billing staff
- Practice managers
- Auditors
- Physician office personnel
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.


Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com