Mary: I want to welcome my AAPC NAB partner, Dr. Michael Warner and his wife Dr. Margaret Warner, to California. Michael has taken a position as an associate professor at Touro University California – College of Osteopathic Medicine. I am so happy to have both them here in California. Working as a team for Region 8 West just got a lot easier. Summer is a time to take it easy and regroup for the task ahead. We are presenting at the Conference in Seattle and will be talking about the changes coming in physician documentation.
Michael: Thank you, Mary! I look forward to being better able to integrate with our region. At the college, I plan on conducting health record documentation research. CMS has already ruled to strip History and Examination of key component status starting 2021. A new Medical Decision Making (MDM) grid will be released publicly this summer. Starting 2021, outpatient/office E/M services will have the option of being scored by MDM only or Time only. Unprecedented changes are occurring to how health professionals gather and manage patient data. Our Seattle presentation will focus on how our AAPC members, empowered with a valuable skill set, will be able to lead the way to better healthcare delivery with these new policies.
We wish everyone a fun and safe summer!
Mary and Mike
Mary Wood, CPC, CPC-I
Michael Warner, DO, CPC, CPCO, CPMA, AAPC Fellow
NAB Region 8 West