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Neurosurgery Coding Alert

News Brief:

No More E/M Documentation Guidelines?

Published on Thu Aug 01, 2002

Recently, the AMA announced on its Web site that on May 16, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform voted 20-1 to recommend eliminating documentation guidelines for E/M services. According to the announcement, "The AMA has repeatedly informed the Department and the Regulatory Relief Advisory Committee that physicians identify E/M documentation guidelines as the single largest paperwork burden imposed by the Medicare program."

The Advisory Committee's recommendation will proceed to Secretary Thompson for a final decision. In the meantime, physicians and coders should continue to observe the current E/M documentation standards. Look to future editions of your Coding Alert newsletter for more information on this important issue as it becomes available.
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