What are E/M services?

• A. Cognitive (non-procedural) services in which a clinician diagnoses and treats illness or injury; assess the patient's status and establish a plan of care
• B. Anatomical imaging procedures
• C. Surgical interventions
• D. Pharmacy dispensing

Answer: (A)

Evaluation and Management services are the clinician’s cognitive work during patient encounters: taking history, performing an exam, diagnosing, and forming a plan of care. They focus on assessing the patient and deciding how to manage illness or injury, rather than performing procedures. This matches the description of cognitive, non-procedural work in which a clinician diagnoses and treats illness or injury and assesses the patient to establish a plan. It’s different from imaging procedures (which involve obtaining anatomical images), surgical interventions (operative procedures), or pharmacy dispensing (giving medications). E/M services underpin most office, hospital, and urgent care visits and are coded based on the history, exam, and medical decision making required.