Yes, the American Medical Association (AMA) released the updated 2021 Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code set for Evaluation and Management (E/M) services. These codes are used to report office and outpatient visits with physicians and other qualified healthcare professionals.
The updated codes include significant changes to the coding and documentation requirements for E/M services. These changes are aimed at reducing administrative burden and increasing the accuracy and specificity of E/M coding.
Some of the changes include:
- The removal of history and physical exam as elements for code selection
- The establishment of time-based criteria for code selection
- The expansion of medical decision-making as a factor for code selection
- The creation of new codes for prolonged services
It is important for healthcare professionals to familiarize themselves with these changes and ensure they are accurately coding and documenting E/M services.