2021 E/M Coding Guidelines

Question:

In the 2021 E/M revision guidelines, how does Time affect billing for a teaching physician’s E/M service when the resident spends a great deal of time with the patient?

Answer:

Good question! Only the time of teaching physician would “count” in the scenario you describe. The new guidelines say that the time of the physician or other qualified health care provider (QHP) are considered. A QHP is a licensed credential provider of E/M services such as a Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioner or Clinical Nurse Specialist…not a resident. Therefore, we cannot add, or consider, the amount of time the resident spent with the patient.