E/M Weekly Tip: Documentation Requirements for Teaching Physicians

Evaluation and Management (E/M) services billed by teaching physicians require that they personally document at least the following:

• That they performed the service or were physically present during the key or critical portions of the service when performed by the resident
• The participation of the teaching physician in the management of the patient

When assigning codes to services billed by teaching physicians, reviewers will combine the documentation of both the resident and the teaching physician.

For more information read the Medicare Claims Processing Manual (PDF, 1.1 MB), Publication 100-04, Chapter 12, Section 100.1.1.A.