Outpatient Facility Coding Alert - 2021 Issue 7
E/M Visits: Collect for Your ED E/M Visits by Avoiding These Common Mistakes
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Article Overview
This article reviews common issues that can affect emergency department evaluation and management reporting, especially when documentation, clinical support, and automated coding tools do not align. It is aimed at coders, billing staff, auditors, and emergency medicine providers who want to better understand the scope of guidance discussed in a webinar on ED E/M coding. The article addresses broad themes such as medical necessity, severity, interpretation of diagnostic tests, critical care documentation, and communication between clinicians and the coding team.
Why This Topic Matters
Emergency department claims can be vulnerable to coding errors when documentation is incomplete or when software-driven suggestions are accepted without review. Understanding the article’s themes can help readers assess whether it addresses the coding, compliance, and workflow issues relevant to their ED practice.
Article Sections
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Introductory guidance
Introduces the article’s focus on ED E/M coding and the role of human review alongside automated tools.
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Failing to Keep Medical Necessity in Mind
Discusses the importance of documentation support and review in emergency department E/M reporting.
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Forgetting to Consider Severity
Covers how the article frames severity as a factor in selecting among ED E/M services.
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Coders Unwilling to Change Codes
Addresses coder review, provider queries, and the need to align claims with supporting documentation.
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Counting Radiology Interpretations That Other Providers Perform
Reviews documentation and interpretation issues involving diagnostic tests performed in the ED setting.
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Billing Critical Care Without Documentation of Time
Summarizes the article’s discussion of critical care documentation and time reporting in emergency care.
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Failure to Communicate
Covers communication practices between providers and coders, including education and query workflows.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames common ED E/M documentation and claim-review problems
- Which broad documentation themes are emphasized for emergency medicine coding
- Why communication between providers and coders is highlighted as part of the workflow
- What general areas of E/M reporting are discussed in relation to compliance and accuracy
Who Should Read This
- Emergency department coders
- Medical billers
- Compliance staff
- Auditors
- Emergency medicine providers
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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