Podiatry Coding & Billing Alert

Question: How often should you update a patient's review of systems (ROS)? I know you can use a ROS from the patient's previous visit and reference that date, but how many years back can you go?

South Carolina Subscriber

Answer: The E/M guidelines don't specify how often you should update the ROS. But, from a medically relevant perspective, your physician should update the ROS every time he sees a patient and requires a review (of some or all of the systems). Many practices have the patient complete an ROS form once per year. Then, at every visit, the physician updates the information based on the medical necessity of that encounter. As far as years, it doesn't matter how far back the ROS goes, as long as your physician consistently updates itaccordingly.

Bottom line: Your physician has to stay current on a patient's medical condition. The patient's condition and your physician's role within that condition dictate how often the ROS should be updated.