FAQ #11
       
Do I always have to spend the full allotted time with the patient to bill for any given level of care?

Answer: No. Some encounters (like hospital progress notes or established office visits) have times assigned to each level of care. If you are coding based on the documentation of the key components of history, exam and medical decision-making, you DO NOT need to spend the entire allotted time with the patient. As long as you document correctly, it really doesn't matter how much time you spend. On the other hand you always have the OPTION of coding based solely on time if you choose to. If you do this, then you must spend the entire time with the patient. (See coding based on time FAQ 12)