EM Coding 2021
- History and examination do not count towards code determination
- The basis of code determination is decision making or time
- Time = Total time on day of encounter. Includes: Review of tests, Obtain/review history, Examination, Ordering tests, medications and procedures, Counseling and education, Documentation in EHR, Interpreting and communicating results (when not separately reported), Referrals and discussion of results with other providers, Care coordination.
| New Patient (15 min increments) | ||
| 99202 | 15 – 29 minutes | |
| 99203 | 30-44 minutes | Over 30 minutes total time was spent on the day of encounter reviewing tests, obtaining and reviewing history, physical examination, providing counseling and education, and documenting in the EHR. |
| 99204 | 45-59 minutes | Over 45 minutes total time was spent on the day of encounter reviewing tests, obtaining and reviewing history, physical examination, providing counseling and education, and documenting in the EHR. |
| 99205 | >60 minutes | Over 60 minutes total time was spent on the day of encounter reviewing tests, obtaining and reviewing history, physical examination, providing counseling and education, and documenting in the EHR. |
| Established Patient (10 min increments) | ||
| 99212 | 10-19 minutes | |
| 99213 | 20-29 minutes | Over 20 minutes total time was spent on the day of encounter reviewing tests, obtaining and reviewing history, physical examination, providing counseling and education, and documenting in the EHR. |
| 99214 | 30-39 minutes | Over 30 minutes total time was spent on the day of encounter reviewing tests, obtaining and reviewing history, physical examination, providing counseling and education, and documenting in the EHR. |
| 99215 | >40 Minutes | Over 40 minutes total time was spent on the day of encounter reviewing tests, obtaining and reviewing history, physical examination, providing counseling and education, and documenting in the EHR. |
- Davidson Coding Table
- CMS Coding Guideline (https://www.cms.gov/Outreach-and-Education/Medicare-Learning-Network-MLN/MLNProducts/Downloads/eval-mgmt-serv-guide-ICN006764.pdf)
New Patient
99201 Problem Focused (Time=10min)
99202 Expanded Problems(Time=25min)
99203 Detailed, low complexity(Time=30min)
99204 Comprehensive, moderate complexity(Time=45min)
99205 Comprehensive, high complexity(Time=60min)
Established Patient
99211 Problem Focused
99212 Expanded Problems (Time=10min)
99213 Detailed, low complexity (Time=15min)
99214 Comprehensive, moderate complexity (Time=25min)
99215 Comprehensive, high complexity (Time=40min)
Hospital Observation Serices - Initial New or Established Patient
99218 Detailed, low complexity
99219 Comprehensive, moderate complexity
99220 Comprehensive, high complexity
Hospital Inpatient Services - Initial Hospital Care - New or Established Patient
Document total minutes coordinating patient care on the floor. The components of History, Exam and MDM are overridden by the time.
99221 – Detailed, low complexity
- Detailed History
- Detailed Exam
- Straightforward or low decision making
- Time = 30
99222 – Comprehensive, moderate complexity
- Comprehensive History
- Comprehensive Exam
- Moderate medical decision making
- Time = 50
99223 – Comprehensive, high complexity
- Comprehensive History
- Comprehensive Exam
- High medical decision making
- Time = 75
Hospital Inpatient Services - Subsequent Hospital Care
99231 Problem focused, low complexity
99232 Expanded problem focused, moderate complexity
99233 Detailed, high complexity
Outpatient Consultation - New or Established
99241 Problem Focused (Time=15min)
99242 Expanded Problems (Time=30min)
99243 Detailed, low complexity (Time=40min)
99244 Comprehensive, moderate complexity (Time=60min)
99245 Comprehensive, high complexity (Time=80min)
Inpatient Consultation - New or Established
99251 Problem Focused
99252 Expanded Problems
99253 Detailed, low complexity
99254 Comprehensive, moderate complexity
99255 Comprehensive, high complexity
Emergency Department Services - New or Established Coding for Orthopaedic Surgeons
Patient seen in ER:
-New Patient Outpatient Visit (99201-99205) Medicare patient or Consult code, (99241-99245) non-Medicare patient.
-For surgical patients add a Modifier 57 - Indicating an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service resulted in the initial decision to perform surgery either the day before a major surgery (90 day global) or the day of a major surgery if surgery is performed
-If patient is admitted to hospital (not same day surgery or observation stay) use inpatient initial codes (99221-99223) for Medicare or consult codes (99251-99255) non-Medicare.
-Emergency Department Services Codes (99281 Problem focused, 99282 Expanded problem focused, 99283 Expand problem focused, low complexity, 99284 Detailed, moderate complexity, 99285 Comprehensive, high complexity) are for the actual ER provider, not an admitting or consulting orthopaedic surgeon.
As of January 1, 2010, MEDICARE no longer pays inpatient or outpatient consults.
Key Components
- History
- Exam
- Medical decision-making
History
Chief Complaint
- concise statement describing the reason for the encounter. Usually stated in the patient's words.
History of Present Illness (HPI)
- Chronological description of the development of the patient's present illness
- Location - shoulder pain
- Severity - pain is 5 on a scale of 10
- Timing - every night, constant pain, pain comes and goes)
- Modifying factors - activity which exacerbate or alleviate symptoms: exacerbated with overhead activity, alleviated with rest.
- Quality - dull, aching, throbbing, stabbing
- Duration - 2 days, 2 months, 2 years etc
- Context - Circumstances causing the symptoms
- Associated signs and symptoms -
Review of Systems (ROS)
- May be obtained through use of a patient completed questionnaire
- Constitutional (weight loss, fever, fatigue, appearance)
- ENT
- Eyes
- Cardiovascular
- Respiratory
- GI
- Genitourinary
- Skin
- Musculoskeletal
- Neurologic
- Psychiatric
- Hematologic & Lymphatic
- Endocrine
- Allergy & Immunology
- "Patient completed ROS questionnaire was reviewed and is signed and dated in the chart. Pertinent postivies include:"
Past Medical History, Family Medical History, Social History (PFSH)
- PMH
- PSH
- Medications
- Family History non-contributory
* The family history describes parents, siblings, children, genetic diseases of the family, etc. If the family history is not a contributing factor to the patient's illness, remember to document this as "non-contributory." - SH: smoking, alcohol, marital status, employment, etc).
- "Past Medical History, Family Medical History, and Social History patient questionnaire was reviewed and is signed and dated in the chart. Pertinent postivies include:"
Exam
Body areas recognized
* Head, including face
* Neck
* Chest, including breasts and axillae
* Abdomen
* Genitalia, groin, buttocks
* Back, including spine
* Each extremity
Organ systems recognized
* Constitutional (height, weight, blood pressure, physical appearance) [1995 guidelines]
* Eyes
* Ears, nose, mouth, and throat
* Cardiovascular
* Respiratory
* Gastrointestinal
* Genitourinary
* Musculoskeletal
* Skin
* Neurologic
* Psychiatric
* Hematologic/Lymphatic/Immunologic
Coding based on time
- Duration of the visit may be utilized to determine the level of the service if >50 percent of the face-to-face time is spent providing counseling or coordination of care.
- Face-to-face time: includes time spent obtaining a history, performing an examination, and counseling/coordination of care.
- Floor/unit time: includes time establishing and/or reviewing the patient chart, examining the patient, writing notes, and communicating with the patient's family and/or other healthcare professionals.
- When time is considered the "key" or controlling factor, the time that a resident/fellow spends with a patient does not count
- Must document:
* Total time of encounter
* Total time spent counseling
* Description of your counseling
New patient is defined as a patient who has not been seen by you within the past three years and has not been seen by another provider in your specialty group.
Established patient has been seen by you within the past three years or was seen by another provider in your specialty group.
Consults: request for a consultation from an appropriate source and the need for consultation must be documented in the patient's medical record. Consultant must provide written report of his/her findings to the referring physician.
Post-Operative Exam codes (within 90 day global period)
- EM code = 99499
- V58.78 (aftercare following surgery of musculoskeletal system)
- V54.81 (aftercare following joint replacement)
- V54.89 (aftercare for healing fracture)
- V54.19 (aftercare for healing traumatic fracture)
Post-Operative Exam Codes (after 90 day global period)
- Use standard EM code
- V67.00 (postsurgical exam)
- V67.9 (follow-up exam)
- V67.4 (exam following treatment of fracture)
Common modifiers:
* -24 applies to an unrelated E&M service provided during the postoperative (or global) period by a single physician.
* -79 applies to an unrelated procedure performed during the global period, rather than an unrelated E&M service.
* -25 applies when a significant, separately identifiable E&M service is performed by a single physician on the same day of another procedure or other service. This must be clearly documented in your note.
* -51 applies when multiple procedures or surgeries are performed during a single visit.
* -50 represents bilateral procedures were performed.
* -53 represents a discontinued procedure.