The Healthcare Confidential Podcast | Episode 20 “Coding Changes for E/M with Pam D’Apuzzo”

On January 1, 2021, significant changes to E/M coding will be rolled out. Pam D’Apuzzo, President of RR Health Strategies, our guest on this episode of Healthcare Confidential, calls them a “game-changer.” What lies ahead, she says, will affect every aspect of what providers do and the standards they have been held to. But while adapting to this change will likely be a big adjustment for providers, ultimately it should prove beneficial, as the new approach allows them to be more focused on patients and less concerned about documenting elements of the visit that have no bearing on the patient or the condition being treated.

Pam has more than 30 years of healthcare consulting experience in academic medical centers, community hospitals, faculty practice plans and large private practices. She is a recognized industry expert in the area of coding and compliance. In this interview, she clearly explains the changes ahead and provides context for how they will affect providers and patients.

The Take-Away: The new rules apply only to patient encounters in the office or outpatient setting. This means that providers who see patients in the office but also in a skilled nursing facility or hospital will have to remember two sets of guidelines. While the new guidelines will often result in providers being able to bill at a higher level, in some instances the level will remain the same or even decrease. As with any change, the opportunity for payer audit and recoupment exists. Begin preparing today by learning the new guidelines and building new EMR templates.

Contact Pam D’Apuzzo: You can reach Pam at 631-231-0505. You also can visit rrhealthstrategies.com and complete the contact link.

Healthcare Confidential Podcast