Wiki Multiple acutes

rmorgan06

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If a provider has multiple acute, uncomplicated illnesses would you give a higher level in the problem portion. Example: patient has acute URI and strep throat. Provider did rapid strep in office and gave rx for antibiotic. Would you count the problem as moderate because there is more than one acute? The guided table states 1 acute illness not multiple. Thanks for any thoughts!
 
This is from the full AMA guidelines:
Number and Complexity of Problems Addressed at the Encounter
One element used in selecting the level of office or other outpatient services is the number and complexity of the problems that are addressed at an encounter. Multiple new or established conditions may be addressed at the same time and may affect MDM. Symptoms may cluster around a specific diagnosis and each symptom is not necessarily a unique condition. Comorbidities/underlying diseases, in and of themselves, are not considered in selecting a level of E/M services unless they are addressed, and their presence increases the amount and/or complexity of data to be reviewed and analyzed or the risk of complications and/or morbidity or mortality of patient management. The final diagnosis for a condition does not, in and of itself, determine the complexity or risk, as extensive evaluation may be required to reach the conclusion that the signs or symptoms do not represent a highly morbid condition. Therefore, presenting symptoms that are likely to represent a highly morbid condition may “drive” MDM even when the ultimate diagnosis is not highly morbid. The evaluation and/or treatment should be consistent with the likely nature of the condition. Multiple problems of a lower severity may, in the aggregate, create higher risk due to interaction.
The term “risk” as used in these definitions relates to risk from the condition. While condition risk and management risk may often correlate, the risk from the condition is distinct from the risk of the management.
I would only consider 2 acute, uncomplicated illnesses as moderate problem IF the documentation clearly supported a higher complexity.
If there were 4 acute, uncomplicated illnesses, I could make an argument for the aggregate, higher risk of the condition due to interaction.
With URI and strep, probably not.
 
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