Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2020 Issue 4
Countdown to 2021: Get Your GI Practice Ready for the 2021 E/M Overhaul
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Article Overview
This article explains upcoming 2021 evaluation and management changes relevant to gastroenterology office and outpatient visits. It is aimed at GI coders and practice staff who need to understand how the revisions may affect code selection, documentation, and overall workflow, with attention to Medicare and CPT-aligned guidance.
Why This Topic Matters
The changes described affect some of the most commonly reported gastroenterology services and may alter how practices document and select office and outpatient E/M codes in 2021.
Article Sections
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Be Ready to Say Farewell to 99201
This section discusses the upcoming removal of a low-level office and outpatient E/M code and the impact on new patient visit code selection for gastroenterology practices.
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Prepare for New Time-Based Coding Guidelines
This section covers the shift toward time-based E/M reporting, the broader concept of total time on the date of service, and documentation expectations tied to that approach.
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MDM Guidelines Shift
This section outlines changes to the language used in medical decision-making criteria and the documentation considerations associated with those revisions.
What You Will Learn
- Which parts of the 2021 E/M overhaul are most relevant to GI office and outpatient visits
- How the article frames the transition from typical time to total time on the date of encounter
- What broad documentation themes are emphasized for supporting E/M code selection
- How the terminology used in medical decision-making criteria is changing
- Why gastroenterology practices should review their current E/M workflows before 2021
Who Should Read This
- Gastroenterology coders
- GI practice managers
- Revenue cycle staff
- Clinical documentation staff
- Physicians billing office and outpatient E/M services
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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