How to report E/M office codes when the physician is new but the patient is not

Article Overview

This article explains how new-versus-established patient status is determined for office E/M reporting when a physician joins a new group and sees patients from a previous practice. It focuses on the three-year rule, how same-specialty group relationships affect classification, and why correct patient-status determination matters for billing accuracy and audit risk. The content is aimed at coders, billers, and practice staff who handle office visit evaluation and management reporting.