Time-Based E/M Code Selector (2021)
Time-Based E/M Code Selector (2021) - a deterministic tool in Sophie Well's Billing & Coding group.
Open the Time-Based E/M Code Selector (2021) → Runs in your browser. No signup, no tracking.
What this is
Map total provider time on the date of an office or outpatient encounter to the corresponding 2021 AMA CPT time-based E/M code (99202-99205 for new patients, 99212-99215 for established patients). Sophie Well returns the bracket the time falls into; the AMA-owned CPT descriptor text is not bundled per licensing.
When to use it
Use this after a visit when you intend to bill by time (counseling-dominant, complex coordination of care, prolonged documentation, or any encounter where the time bracket lands higher than the MDM-based code would). The 2021 revision counts all qualifying time spent on the date of service - chart review, documentation, ordering, counseling - not just face-to-face. Document the total minutes and the activities; the code is a function of those minutes and Sophie just bins them.
References
AMA CPT 2021 office/outpatient E/M time bands. Code descriptors are AMA-owned and not bundled.
Worked example: Code 99204 (45 min, new patient; AMA 2021 bands).
Sophie Well is a reference and educational tool. Not medical, legal, or financial advice. Does not replace clinician judgment, professional billing review, or legal counsel.