To the Editor:

The proposed revision of the evaluation and management (E/M) codes described in “An Update on the E/M Codes and Documentation Guidelines” [May 2003, page 14] reminded me of the time when there were booklets for different specialties that gave examples of the different coding levels because words such as “expanded problem focused” did not by themselves convey the intended meaning. I understand the motive to make E/M coding easier, but what is proposed will mark a step back to a time when examples were woefully inadequate.