No 1997 GI Specialty Exam Guidelines
You wrote:
For example does an office visit for a gatroenterologist have to document 12 to 17 bullets from 5 to 7 systems on the physical exam, in order to meet the detailed level?
There are no 1997 GI Specialty Exam Guidelines to follow, so you must use the General Multi-System Exam guidelines.
For a detailed exam under 1997 guidelines, you need to document at least 2 elements from each of 6 areas/systems -or- at least 12 elements in 2 or more areas/systems.
For a comprehensive exam under 1995 guidelines, you need to document a detailed examination of the problem area/system, and examination of at least one other related system. (This per the actual wording of the guidelines.) Some carriers follow the guideline that you need to document examination of 5-7 body areas/organ systems; others use 6-7 body areas/organ systems.
I am not familiar with any guidelines requiring "12 to 17 bullets from 5 to 7 systems"
Hope that helps.
F Tessa Bartels, CPC, CEMC