Evaluation and Management Coding

Information on Consultation Codes

On October 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final ruling regarding the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule. One of the major announcements in the Final Rule is the elimination of payment for consultation codes as of January 1, 2010. Physicians should not bill consultation codes to Medicare for dates of service past December 31.

• Medicare Eliminates Consults: What the Academy is Doing For You
• 2010 Medicare Fee Schedule Changes Include Elimination of Payment for Consultation Codes
• Read the Latest on CMS Elimination of Consultation Codes
• CMS to Redistribute Payment for Evaluation and Management Services Starting January 1
• Academy Responds to Proposal to Eliminate Consultation Codes

Consultation Coding Webinar: Do you understand how to code for consultations under the new Medicare rules?

Learn the latest about coding changes for 2010—register to participate in the audio conference/webinar, "Medicare Eliminates Consults: What Neurologists Need to Know by January 1." This event takes place on Tuesday, December 8, at noon ET.

Pricing is $149 per phone line .

Register now.

Did you miss the first four 2009 coding audio conferences? You can purchase recordings of each through the AAN store.

E/M Templates

The Coding Subcommittee of the Medical Economics and Management Committee has developed E/M templates for use by neurologists as a means to assist them in coding appropriately for level 1, 2, and 3 initial and subsequent hospital visits; use level 2, 3, 4, and 5 for established and new patient/consultation.

Access the templates: The templates listed below are available to AAN members on the E/M Templates page. Note: In order to view the templates, you must first log in as an AAN member.

E/M Templates

E/M Level 1 Initial Hospitalization*

E/M Level 1 New Patient/Consultation*

E/M Level 1 Subsequent Hospital Follow Up*

E/M Level 2 Established Patient*

E/M Level 2 New Patient/Consultation*

E/M Level 2 Initial Hospitalization*

E/M Level 2 Subsequent Hospital Follow Up*

E/M Level 3 Established Patient

E/M Level 3 New Patient/Consultation

E/M Level 3 Initial Hospitalization*

E/M Level 3 Subsequent Hospital Follow Up*

E/M Level 4 Established Patient

E/M Level 4 New Patient/Consultation

E/M Level 5 Established Patient

E/M Level 5 New Patient/Consultation

Additional Resources Available on the E/M Templates page:

• An audio recording is available for more information on the use of these templates.
• Evaluation and Management Audio Conference Materials
• Audio Recording of E/M Audio Conference

For more information

If you have questions or require further information about the use of these templates, please contact Gina Gjorvad, Medical Economics Administrator, at ggjorvad@aan.com or (651) 695-2715.

* Indicates template was published May 2008.

Clinical Examples for Common E/M Visits

The AAN developed clinical examples for neurology patients with back pain, headache, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and epilepsy for six code levels. Examples are given for these six E/M codes for each condition:

• New patient, office visit (99203)
• New patient, office visit (99205
• Established patient, office visit (99213)
• Established patient, office visit (99215)
• Initial hospital care (99222)
• Subsequent hospital care (99232)

View the clinical examples:

• Stroke
• Headache
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Epilepsy