Brush Up on Coding, Earn CME

Accurate coding may be the single most important way to ensure the financial health of a family physician's practice. To help members improve their coding skills, the Academy has launched the first in a series of coding tutorials available through the AAFP's Web site.

The first course, Introduction to E/M Services Coding, introduces basic definitions and guidelines inherent in coding for evaluation and management services. It teaches physicians how to code for counseling, history and consultations and how to differentiate between new and established patients.

Here's how to get started: Order the first tutorial through the link above and receive the tutorial in a PDF format via e-mail within two days. The course costs $39.95, and this CME has been approved for AAFP Prescribed credit.

As many as 10 more tutorials are planned and will roll out to members as the content is developed. The next topic in the series -- targeted for completion by year's end -- deals with how to select the appropriate level of E/M service for outpatient services.

Additional topics under consideration include

The concept of creating a series of coding tutorials sprang from a recommendation made by the Academy's reimbursement strike force, a working group established in March 2005 to assess and improve AAFP efforts in helping members cope with payment issues.