2020 has been a rough year for all of us, and everybody is eagerly awaiting 2021. One thing for urgent care providers to look forward to is simplified documentation standards for evaluation and management guidelines. Current documentation guidelines are over 20 years old. A lot has changed in that time, most importantly the adoption of electronic medical records (EMR). Thus, outdated expectations have created “note bloat,” unnecessary work, and contributed to provider burn out.
The first major change that should save providers the most time is that only a “medically appropriate” history and/or examination is required. These two formerly “key” elements have no impact on the level of care. While still necessary, the amount of documentation is up to the clinician.
That leaves codes to be selected by either medical decision-making (MDM) or time. These two elements look a lot different than they do today. The documentation requirements are also the same whether the patient is new or established.
Medical Decision-Making
The level will continue to be based on two out of three elements, though the requirements and concepts have changed. The three elements are:
- Number and complexity of problems addressed
- Amount and/or complexity of data to be reviewed and analyzed
- Risk of complications and/or morbidity or mortality of patient management
The second element is where we see the biggest impact. Here doctors will get credit for the clinically important work they are already performing. Data is divided into three categories:
- Tests, documents, orders, or independent historian(s)
- Independent interpretation of tests
- Discussion of management or test interpretation with external physician/other qualified health professional (QHP)/appropriate source
Each unique test, order, or document contributes to the combination for category 1. Each CPT is a unique test. Credit is giving separately for ordering of each unique test and reviewing the results.
Also counted is an assessment requiring an independent historian (eg, from a daughter whose mother has dementia). Providers should take care to document these conversations.
Independent interpretation and discussion of test interpretation would only be counted if the clinic is not also billing for the test (eg, a patient brings in their x-ray from another provider). This would be rare in the urgent care setting.
As for “appropriate source,” these are individuals who are not healthcare professionals but who may be involved in the management of the patient (eg, a workers compensation case manager). Providers have not received credit for this in the past.
A new item for risk is when care is significantly limited by social determinants of health. This could be a patient who is homeless or somebody who cannot afford their medication, for example. The additional complexity for these patients is classified as moderate risk.
Time
Today, levels can be based on time when 50% of the face-to-face time is spent in counseling and coordination of care. That is not the case in 2021.
Time is defined as the total time spent by the “reporting” practitioner on the day of the visit (including face-to-face and non─face-to-face time). This is not limited to the time the patient is physically in the office. Examples of non─face-to-face time include reviewing of tests to prepare to see the patient; ordering medications, tests, and procedures; and documenting the service in the EMR.
Also, the guidelines state that when both a physician and a nonphysician provider see the patient, the total time for both providers should be combined to determine the correct code. Time spent by clinical staff (eg, nurses) and time spent on a procedure should be excluded from the total time calculation.
An add-on code will be added for each additional 15 minutes if the visit goes over the time stated in the CPT description for 99205 or 99215. It must be a complete 15 minutes to report this code—no rounding up.
Providers should consider documenting time for every visit. When total time gives you a higher level than MDM, that is what you should report, and vice versa.
For additional information from the American Medical Association, go to https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt/cpt-evaluation-and-management.
As always, documentation should be sufficient for a subsequent provider to treat the patient and a proper legal defense. Make sure you are documenting these new items so you get credit for all the work you are doing.
