As interventional radiology continues to evolve into a true clinical practice, more time will be spent on the clinical decision process; this time is reimbursable in the form of evaluation and management (E&M) services. Once assumed to be an inherent part of the procedure itself, we know many procedures now do not include follow-up E&M components. Unfortunately, E&M coding is somewhat complex and requires rigorous documentation. Below is a discussion of the fundamentals of E&M services, general principles of documentation, and the mechanics of coverage and reimbursement.
Keywords: Coding; E&M; evaluation and management; interventional procedures.