Which best describes 'Tests (data)' for MDM?

Which best describes 'Tests (data)' for MDM?

• A. Only imaging studies.
• B. Imaging, laboratory, psychometric, or physiologic data; a BMP panel is a single test; pulse oximetry is not a test.
• C. Only laboratory panels count as tests.
• D. All data including notes count as tests.

Answer: (B)

In MDM, tests (data) include anything you obtain or review to help you make a decision, spanning imaging, laboratory tests, psychometric assessments, and physiologic data. A BMP panel is counted as a single data item, even though it contains multiple components. Pulse oximetry results are physiologic data but aren’t counted as a separate test item in the data category; they contribute to the overall physiologic data considered. This description best captures the range and counting rules for data in MDM. The other options are too narrow or miscount data: focusing only on imaging misses other data types; claiming only laboratory panels count ignores imaging, psychometrics, and physiologic data; and including notes as tests would misrepresent what’s counted as a data item.

In MDM, tests (data) include anything you obtain or review to help you make a decision, spanning imaging, laboratory tests, psychometric assessments, and physiologic data. A BMP panel is counted as a single data item, even though it contains multiple components. Pulse oximetry results are physiologic data but aren’t counted as a separate test item in the data category; they contribute to the overall physiologic data considered. This description best captures the range and counting rules for data in MDM.

The other options are too narrow or miscount data: focusing only on imaging misses other data types; claiming only laboratory panels count ignores imaging, psychometrics, and physiologic data; and including notes as tests would misrepresent what’s counted as a data item.