The amount of time spent on the encounter includes which of the following?

The amount of time spent on the encounter includes which of the following?

• A. Time spent face to face with the patient and time spent that is not face to face with the patient but is spent on tasks associated with that specific patient encounter
• B. Only time spent face to face with the patient
• C. Travel time to the appointment
• D. Waiting time in the office

Answer: (A)

In time-based E/M coding, the total time counted for an encounter is the sum of all time spent on that patient’s care on the day of the visit, both the time spent with the patient and the time spent on related non-face-to-face tasks. This includes activities like reviewing the patient’s records, documenting the encounter, ordering tests, interpreting results, and coordinating care, all directly tied to that encounter. That means you count the time in the room with the patient plus the time spent on those related non-face-to-face activities. Travel time to the appointment and waiting time in the office aren’t included in the encounter’s time for office visits. So the option describing both in-person time and related non-face-to-face tasks best fits the rule.

In time-based E/M coding, the total time counted for an encounter is the sum of all time spent on that patient’s care on the day of the visit, both the time spent with the patient and the time spent on related non-face-to-face tasks. This includes activities like reviewing the patient’s records, documenting the encounter, ordering tests, interpreting results, and coordinating care, all directly tied to that encounter.

That means you count the time in the room with the patient plus the time spent on those related non-face-to-face activities. Travel time to the appointment and waiting time in the office aren’t included in the encounter’s time for office visits. So the option describing both in-person time and related non-face-to-face tasks best fits the rule.