Wiki can coder select E/M code for doc?

[recy]

Does anyone know if there are any rules or guidelines that say the physician has to be the one to select the E/M code. I am wondering if it is legal for a certified coder who works in a physicians office to select the E/M code for the doctor based on the doctors documentation instead of the physician selecting the code (of course the coder would only do it with the doctors permission).

Thanks.

 

[mitchellde]

Of course it is legal for the coder to assign the visit level as long as it is based on a review of the documentation and application of the 95 or 97 guidelines.

 

[kbazarte@yahoo.com]

Alot of doc's rely on their coders to select the E/M's. As part of our jobs we are required to know the coding guidelines and in alot of instances the coders are much more knowledgable about those guidelines than the doc's. I work in Revenue Integrity and I can not tell you how much education is done with docs just on E/M's and how many of the doc's fail their audits strictly because of the E/M's.