Lighting the E/M fuse: Looming guideline changes foretell a new era in reporting

Why This Topic Matters

Changes to evaluation and management documentation guidance can affect a large volume of commonly billed office visit services, as well as practice workflows, audit risk, and payer alignment. Readers need to understand the direction of CMS policy because it may influence both Medicare and commercial reporting expectations.

Article Sections

1. 2018 rulemaking and the case for E/M reform

   Introduces the CMS rulemaking context and explains why evaluation and management documentation is being revisited. Discusses the scale of office visit reporting and the general policy motivation for change.

2. Early responses favor focus on MDM

   Summarizes stakeholder and conference feedback on the direction of guideline revision. Covers broad viewpoints about documentation elements and how service levels are distinguished.

3. Plotting a future for E/M

   Explores possible future approaches to E/M documentation and reporting, including broader workflow and technology considerations. Notes the range of opinions about whether the guidelines alone or the code structure itself should change.