JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022

The 2022 updates don't include massive E/M coding changes like last year, but several changes are much-needed and relevant to family physicians.

In the exam room, the distinction between one type of visit and another isn't always clear. It's important to know when — and how — you can bill for both.

From wellness visits to opting out, here are nine commonly asked questions about Medicare.

Getting clear on the new coding rules can help you eliminate bloated documentation and improve reimbursement to reflect the value of your visits.

Quality peer reviews help the FPM editorial team select and publish articles that are accurate, authoritative, and useful to family physicians and others in primary care. We would like to thank the following peer reviewers, who completed manuscript reviews in 2021.

“It's not enough to be busy; so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?” — Henry David Thoreau

There's more work to be done, but the new rules simplified documentation and coding criteria and should result in increased revenue.

PROBLEM NOT ADDRESSED UNTIL FOLLOW-UP VISIT | INCIDENT-TO ANNUAL WELLNESS VISITS | TREATING SECOND-DEGREE BURNS | DIAGNOSIS CODES FOR INFANT WITH PROBLEM RULED OUT DURING VISIT

SIMPLIFY DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAM FOR INPATIENT CODING | CAPTURE ALL OF YOUR TIME FOR OUTPATIENT E/M CODING

In this short poem, a physician processes the dilemma of caring for patients who won’t take advice when it comes to vaccination.

Providing excellent patient service isn't an add-on. It's what we're supposed to do.