Countdown to 2021: Will You Choose Time or MDM for Your 2021 E/Ms? Here’s How to Decide.

Why This Topic Matters

Choosing the appropriate E/M selection method affects both coding accuracy and reimbursement. The article helps readers understand the broader decision context so they can assess whether the time-based or MDM-based approach is relevant to their own workflows.

Article Sections

1. The Case

   Introduces the patient scenario used to frame the discussion of 2021 office/outpatient E/M reporting. The section presents the clinical context and documentation elements reviewed in the encounter.

2. E/M Coding by Time

   Discusses the time-based approach to selecting the office/outpatient E/M service level for the encounter. It contrasts the case timing with the broader 2021 reporting framework.

3. E/M Coding by MDM

   Discusses the medical decision making approach to selecting the office/outpatient E/M service level for the encounter. The section compares the case’s complexity with the 2021 framework for office/outpatient services.

4. ICD-10 Coding

   Addresses diagnosis coding considerations associated with the encounter and emphasizes the importance of accurate ICD-10 reporting alongside E/M selection. The section presents diagnosis coding in the context of the case discussion.