AMA issues checklist for the transition to E/M office visit changes

CHICAGO — The American Medical Association (AMA) is helping physician practices integrate fundamental changes to the coding and documentation of evaluation and management (E/M) office visit services that account for nearly $23 billion in Medicare spending. New Medicare office-visit coding and documentation guidelines are simpler and more flexible, but physician practices will need to prepare in the new year to get the full benefit of the burden relief the changes are designed to bring.

The AMA worked with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and convened specialty societies and other health professionals to simplify the requirements, make them clinically relevant, and reduce excessive documentation burden.