Countdown to 2021: Begin the Countdown to 2021 by Taking These 2 Steps

Why This Topic Matters

The article addresses a major transition in office/outpatient E/M coding and highlights operational steps practices can take before the changes take effect. It is relevant to anyone responsible for documentation standards, coding workflow design, or payer readiness.

Article Sections

1. Step 1: Streamline Your Documentation by Avoiding Duplication

   Discusses documentation reduction themes and the broader move away from unnecessary duplication in office/outpatient records. It also notes related CMS policy updates affecting documentation practices.

2. Step 2: Put Your 2021 E/M Plan in Place

   Introduces the need for a practice-level preparation plan for the upcoming E/M changes and references general planning resources.

3. Contact Your Carriers

   Covers payer communication as a preparation step and raises the need to understand how different carriers may approach documentation requirements.

4. Change Your Recording

   Focuses on reassessing encounter documentation workflows, templates, and how medical decision making may be represented in the record.

5. Capture Time Correctly

   Addresses the need to review timekeeping workflows so practices can record time consistently for office/outpatient visits.