Question: I have a urologist’s note for an office visit that clearly indicates a comprehensive examination and high-complexity medical decision making for a new patient with symptomatic metastatic carcinoma of the prostate. I am not sure if the history level is comprehensive or detailed. The surgeon addressed five history of present illness (HPI) elements and reviewed 11 systems (ROS). Is this a level-five E/M?
Louisiana Subscriber
Answer: You’ll have to review the notes to determine the level of personal past medical, family, and social history (PFSH) before deciding on an E/M code. You would have to identify a complete PFSH in order to code a level-five E/M service.
How it works: There are three levels of PFSH:
This encounter involved extended HPI and a complete ROS, both requirements for a comprehensive E/M history. A comprehensive history also requires a complete PFSH, which you do not mention in your description. If you read through your review of systems, you may find elements of past or social history that can be used in those categories.
Best bet: Count the PFSH elements that the urologist documented. If he performed a complete PFSH, report 99205 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient, which requires these 3 key components: a comprehensive history; a comprehensive examination; medical decision making of high complexity …) for this encounter. If the physician documented only one or two PFSH elements for this patient, this will only qualify as a detailed history, so you should select 99203 (…a detailed history; a detailed examination; medical decision making of low complexity …) for the encounter. If there is no PFSH, 99202 (an expanded problem focused history; an expanded problem focused examination; straightforward medical decision making) is the highest code you will be able to bill.
Pointer: The PFSH might not have its own section in the notes; most likely, you’ll find this information within the notes documenting the patient’s HPI or ROS.
Alternative: Be sure your urologist wasn’t planning to bill based on time alone, rather than the key elements of history, examination, and medical decision making. If he documented the following, you should consider billing based on time:
1. The total time spent with the patient
2. That more than 50 percent of the face-to-face time the physician spent with the patient/and or family is counseling/coordination of care.
3. A description or summary of the counseling/coordination of care provided.