Inadequate coding is one of the biggest mistakes a physician can make. E/M coding is some of the most confusing, so our experts at R.T Welter are sharing their tips to ensure the proper coding. At Welter Healthcare Partners we can help make sure that you stop losing money by using incorrect coding and documentation in your practice. We can make sure that our coding tips will help you boost revenue. For more information and inquires you can contact us at (303) 534-0388.nn
The clock is ticking, and you’re trying to select the right E/M level from a drop-down menu in the EHR. Choose a level that’s too high, and you run the risk of post-payment audits and recoupments. Choose one that’s too low, and you may lose revenue to which you’re entitled. You decide just to trust your instincts and go with a code that feels right so you can move on to the next patient.nnChoosing an E/M code based on a gut feeling is one of the biggest mistakes a physician can make, says Sonal Patel, CPMA, CPC, a healthcare coder and compliance consultant with Nexsen Pruet LLC, a business law firm in Charleston, S.C. Payers and auditors use a quantitative scoring process that requires specific elements (i.e., history, exam, and medical decision-making [MDM]—or time spent counseling and coordinating care) for each E/M level.nnIf physicians don’t document these elements adequately—or the elements they document don’t make sense given the patient’s presenting problem (e.g., performing a comprehensive exam for a patient with a sinus infection)—payers and auditors may down-code the service or even conduct a more in-depth audit that could expose additional documentation vulnerabilities, she adds.nnIt’s equally risky to report the same E/M level for all patients with the same diagnoses (e.g., diabetes or congestive heart failure) without first considering medical necessity—a trap into which many physicians fall because they assume all patients with the same diagnoses generally require the same work, says Toni Elhoms, CCS, CPC, director of coding and compliance at Welter Healthcare Partners , a healthcare consulting company in Arvada, Colo. “In reality, every single visit could be a different level based on the documentation and circumstances of the encounter,” she says.nnFocus on quality E/M documentation—and the dollars will follownnKnowing what documentation is required for each E/M level is paramount. For example, the history, exam, and MDM must meet or exceed certain requirements for all new patients. The only exception is when the physician selects the E/M level using time as the controlling factor. In this case, documentation must indicate that the physician spent more than 50 percent of the encounter face-to-face with the patient and/or family providing counseling and/or coordination of care. The physician must also explain the specific services rendered and the reasons for them.nnOnly two of three key components must meet or exceed certain requirements for established patients unless the physician bills based on time. Elhoms provides an E/M scoring guide that includes a visual depiction of documentation requirements for each specific E/M level based on whether the patient is new or established.nnSound confusing? Experts agree that even the most experienced medical coders have difficulty translating physician documentation into an accurate E/M code. They cite several reasons why E/M coding is so difficult for physicians—lack of formal training on E/M guidelines, complex documentation requirements that don’t align with clinical practices, and the subjective nature of the MDM component.nnWe’ve asked our experts to share their best documentation tips to ensure accurate E/M reporting. Here’s what they said.n
History
nWhen billing a level 4 or 5 new patient E/M code (i.e., 99204 or 99205), remember to document one specific item from the past medical history (i.e., illness, operations, injuries, treatments, medications, or allergies), one specific item from the family history (i.e., medical events or hereditary diseases that place the patient at risk), and one item from the social history (e.g., use of tobacco, drugs, or alcohol).nnOriginal article published on medicaleconomics.com