03/10/2020
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1
RE: E/M 99202-99215 Office Visit Codes and Guidelines Due to Change Jan. 1, 2021
From: Lawrence Rubin, DPM
I believe many podiatrists reading PM News may not be aware of the complete change in Medicare Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding and payment guidelines for new and established patient office visits due to be implemented January 1, 2021. The new guidelines that will be explained in the 2021 CPT are simpler and more flexible, but each medical specialty, such as podiatry, will have to adapt the guidelines to its unique E/M content characteristics. The change will have special importance to practices whose EMR systems are geared to "fill in the blanks" to document the level of care needed for choosing the correct code under the discontinued guidelines.
Notably, the new system eliminates history and physical exams as elements for code selection and allows you to choose whether your documentation is based on medical decision-making or total time spent by you and/or your staff members.
The AMA is urging its members to begin preparing for this change now. It has an online teaching system in place and is advising all medical practice managers to familiarize themselves with the details of the new guidelines and coding definitions. Hopefully, both the APMA and its affiliated state organizations as well as local podiatric groups will sponsor educational seminars and workshops. January 1, 2021, will be here in just 9 months.
Lawrence Rubin, DPM, Las Vegas, NV
RESPONSES/COMMENTS (NON-CLINICAL) - PART 1
RE: E/M 99202-99215 Office Visit Codes and Guidelines Due to Change Jan. 1, 2021
From: Lawrence Rubin, DPM
I believe many podiatrists reading PM News may not be aware of the complete change in Medicare Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding and payment guidelines for new and established patient office visits due to be implemented January 1, 2021. The new guidelines that will be explained in the 2021 CPT are simpler and more flexible, but each medical specialty, such as podiatry, will have to adapt the guidelines to its unique E/M content characteristics. The change will have special importance to practices whose EMR systems are geared to "fill in the blanks" to document the level of care needed for choosing the correct code under the discontinued guidelines.
Notably, the new system eliminates history and physical exams as elements for code selection and allows you to choose whether your documentation is based on medical decision-making or total time spent by you and/or your staff members.
The AMA is urging its members to begin preparing for this change now. It has an online teaching system in place and is advising all medical practice managers to familiarize themselves with the details of the new guidelines and coding definitions. Hopefully, both the APMA and its affiliated state organizations as well as local podiatric groups will sponsor educational seminars and workshops. January 1, 2021, will be here in just 9 months.
Lawrence Rubin, DPM, Las Vegas, NV