You can use 1995 and 1997 for both practicioners and specialists...as the manual said you decide for yourself by comparing how the two versions treat the key components of documentation. History, Exam and Medical Decision Making.
Here is more Information:
In 1995 Medicare and the AMA developed the initial set of EM DGs. As auditing showed a pattern of continued misuse of the E/M codes, the 1995 DGs were criticized as unfair to specialists because they seemed to not credit for extended single system examinations with as much weight as limited multiple system exams.
Within two years, the E/M DGs were revised to improve physician and provider understanding and payment accuracy by extending the definitions to include specialty specific guidence. This set of DGs was scheduled to replace the 1995 DGs and became known as the 1997 DGs. The only problem with this is that the physician community loudly objected to the 1997 DGs. They were criticized as burdensome with documentation requirements that were too detailed and very difficult to achieve. In response to this, Medicare decided to not replace the 1995 but to instead allow physicians and providers to choose between the two.
It is important to note that many non-Medicare payers follow Medicare DGs but for specific payer policy, it is necessary for physicians to confirm the rules with each of their payers in their states.
Therefore, you can use both set of guidelines in the same facility, physician and the same patient,
but never the same encounter.
One more thing, if you are a member of the AAPC, I recomend their magazine the Cutting Edge.
Love to help.
Carmen
