Under CPT E/M guidelines, time alone can be used to select codes in which range?

Under CPT E/M guidelines, time alone can be used to select codes in which range?

• A. 99202-99215
• B. 99201-99205
• C. 99100-99140
• D. 99381-99397

Answer: (A)

Time can be the basis for selecting CPT E/M codes only for office/outpatient visits where the encounter is spend heavily on counseling and care coordination. The codes in this range (the office/outpatient visit levels for new and established patients) allow you to choose the appropriate level based on the total time spent on the encounter, not just the medical decision making. You must document the total time spent on all related work on the same day, including counseling, communication with others, and record review, even those activities that aren’t face-to-face with the patient. This approach is specific to office/outpatient E/M visits, and other ranges (such as preventive pediatric visits or other service types) do not use time alone to determine the code. For example, if a clinician spends a long time counseling and coordinating care with a patient and family, you could select the appropriate level within this range based on the total time documented.

Time can be the basis for selecting CPT E/M codes only for office/outpatient visits where the encounter is spend heavily on counseling and care coordination. The codes in this range (the office/outpatient visit levels for new and established patients) allow you to choose the appropriate level based on the total time spent on the encounter, not just the medical decision making. You must document the total time spent on all related work on the same day, including counseling, communication with others, and record review, even those activities that aren’t face-to-face with the patient. This approach is specific to office/outpatient E/M visits, and other ranges (such as preventive pediatric visits or other service types) do not use time alone to determine the code. For example, if a clinician spends a long time counseling and coordinating care with a patient and family, you could select the appropriate level within this range based on the total time documented.