# Unraveling E&M 2023 Code Changes: Impact and Implications on Healthcare

By James Kent · Published 2023-08-09 · Updated 2026-07-23 · Healthcare on MarketScale
Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/healthcare/em-2023-code-changes

> Healthcare providers face a critical transition as coding standards shift focus from documentation volume to clinical decision-making

## Key points

- The E&M 2023 code changes focus on clinical decision-making instead of documentation volume.
- The new coding standards promise to reduce administrative burdens for physicians and coders.
- Healthcare sector aims to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and emphasize medical decision-making.

The world of healthcare coding is evolving with the new Evaluation and Management (E&M) 2023 code changes. After nearly 25 years, these E&M code changes promise to reduce the [administrative burden](https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt/what-physicians-need-know-about-em-code-changes-coming-jan-1) for physicians and coders while refining patient care. The shift underlines the healthcare sector’s commitment to streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and emphasizing medical decision-making over paperwork. These improvements come on the heels of exciting [new healthcare technology advancements](https://marketscale.com/industries/healthcare/understanding-new-technology/) critical to enhancing ROI.

> The shift underlines the healthcare sector’s commitment to streamlining processes, improving efficiency, and emphasizing medical decision-making over paperwork.

What does this overhaul mean for practitioners, coders, patients, and the healthcare ecosystem?

[Michelle Dawn Mooney](https://www.michelledawnmooney.com/), the host of the RCM Chat Podcast by **AGS Health**, spoke with [Leigh Poland](https://www.linkedin.com/in/leigh-poland-rhia-ccs-cdip-204878123/), Vice President, Coding Service Line at **AGS Health**, and [Lingaraja Prabhu](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lingaraja-prabhu-pmp%C2%AE-b3b2a015/?originalSubdomain=in), Executive Director, Coding, at **AGS Health**, about this significant transformation. In this episode, they discuss the recent E&M code changes and their impact on various stakeholders.

Key conversation points include:

- Significant changes in E&M 2023 guidelines compared to the previous ones from 1995 and 1997
- The transition journey from previous guidelines to the 2023 version and its effect on denial management and post-submission audits
- The benefits of the new guidelines for physicians, coders, and patients and the challenges they pose

### About the Speakers

**Leigh Poland** brings vast experience and strategic insights into the changing coding landscape to her role as Vice President of the Coding Service Line for **AGS Health**. **Lingaraja Prabhu** leverages his rich industry knowledge to simplify complex coding changes and their impact.

Tags: 2023 E&M guidelines, AGS Health, E&M code changes, healthcare coding, RCM Chat Podcast

---
Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/healthcare/em-2023-code-changes. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt