About the course
Most psychiatric prescribers know the 2021 E/M rules gave them a choice between time-based and MDM-based coding. What many still struggle with is when to use each method, how to code mixed visits that include psychotherapy, and how everyday documentation habits quietly create revenue loss or audit exposure. This course provides a practical framework for analyzing what actually happened in an outpatient psychiatric visit, documenting it clearly, and coding it correctly. Participants learn how to choose between time and MDM, apply psychotherapy add-on rules appropriately, and write defensible documentation that accurately reflects the clinical work performed. Many prescribers receive minimal formal education on translating clinical reasoning into compliant, audit-defensible documentation under the post-2021 E/M framework. The focus is not memorizing rules, but developing clinical judgment around what actually occurred in the visit. What you’ll do in this course:
Objective 1
Distinguish when E/M codes should be selected using time versus MDM based on the actual clinical work performed.
Objective 2
Apply clinical judgment to mixed visits involving medication management and psychotherapy, using CMS and CPT rules to code these services accurately and defensibly.
Objective 3
Recognize common coding errors that lead to under-billing or audit risk in psychiatric practice and implement documentation strategies to avoid them.
Who Should Take This Course
Designed for: PMHNPs, nurse practitioners, psychiatrists, physician assistants, and other psychiatric prescribers working in outpatient mental health settings who: • Select or supervise E/M and psychotherapy codes • Want to reduce audit risk while avoiding chronic under-billing • Need practical guidance on integrating time, MDM, and psychotherapy rules into daily practice Level: Intermediate No prerequisites.
Accreditation & Credit
Think Beyond Education is in the process of applying for accreditation as a provider of nursing continuing professional development through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. This course is currently being offered as part of our pilot and review process. CE credit will be available once accreditation is approved and this activity is formally released.
Michael Van Gelder MS, MN, PMHNP-BC
Michael is a psychiatric nurse practitioner, educator, and CE provider focused on practical, high-clarity clinical reasoning for frontline mental-health clinicians. He combines evidence-based frameworks with real-world experience from outpatient and telepsychiatry settings.
To receive CE credit, learners must:
1. Review all course content/modules 2. Complete the post-test with a passing score of 80% or higher 3. Submit the required course evaluation 4. Download and retain the CE certificate for professional records
FAQ
Q: How long do I have access to the course? A: Learners have lifetime access. Q: Do I need to complete everything at once? A: No. Modules and post-test can be completed at your own pace. Q: How do I receive my certificate? A: Immediately after passing the post-test and completing the evaluation. Q: Are refunds available? A: Refunds are not offered for digital CE products.
Ready to learn something actually useful for real-world practice?
Enroll below to start the course.