The 2021 E/M Data Area—Updated Already – Review of Ophthalmology

The new codes, changes and quality-of-care requirements you need to know about to be prepared for the year to come.

This article addresses the following questions:

• What did the AMA change as it relates to the Time-based code option for E/M?
• What are the changes related to categorizing the ordering of tests under the Data area when using MDM instead of time?
• What’s the AMA’s determination on what constitutes ‘independent interpretation’ under the Data area, as opposed to a “review of test”?
• Do the letters I send to the primary care doctors of my diabetic patients count as “Discussion” under the Data area of MDM so that I could have the “Moderate” level?
• Are there any other important clarifications to the Data area?
• I often get referrals from outside doctors in my glaucoma practice and they include old visual fields and OCTs of the nerve. How do I categorize them?

This article was published in Review of Ophthalmology’s Medicare Q & A column, which is written by Corcoran’s Senior Consultant, Paul M. Larson, MBA, MMSc, COMT, COE, CPC, CPMA. To view the entire article in Review of Ophthalmology, click on the link below:

https://www.reviewofophthalmology.com/article/the-2021-e-m-data-area-updated-already