About the Course

Evaluation and management (E/M) codes were last updated in 1997. The American Medical Association (AMA) has released new guidelines effective Jan 1, 2021 to the code definitions for E/M Codes. These changes place more emphasis on medical decision making or time compared to the previous history and examination components. These changes affect every optometrist in clinical practice and therefore strong understanding of the use of these new codes is critical to patient care providers. This course will comprehensively cover these changes and how to apply them to patient care.

Learning Objectives

• Discuss reasons for why CPT code changes have occurred
• Discuss what CPT code changes have occurred
• Review clinical scenarios and coding examples using the new guidelines

Meet the Instructors

Katie Connolly, OD

Katie Connolly joined Indiana University School of Optometry in July 2015 as a clinical assistant professor working in the pediatric/binocular vision and primary care services at the Atwater Eye Care Center.

Dr. Connolly completed her undergraduate studies at Lake Superior State University and received her doctorate of optometry with distinction from the Michigan College of Optometry in 2014. She then completed her residency in pediatric optometry and binocular vision in 2015 at Indiana University School of Optometry.

She is the director of the school vision screening program in Bloomington and has been focusing on how to improve eye care for patients with special needs. She serves as coordinator of the pediatric/binocular vision residency program.

Her special interests include amblyopia, strabismus, as well as optometric coding and billing. She is currently a candidate for fellowship of the American Academy of Optometry and is a member of the American Optometric Association.

Neil Pence, OD, FAAO

Dr. Neil A. Pence has been a member of the IU School of Optometry faculty since 1979. He currently serves as the Associate Dean for Clinical and Patient Care Services, overseeing all activity in the IUSO clinics and patient care services.

Dr. Pence has lectured internationally in the area of contact lenses and corneal and anterior segment disorders. He has also written and lectured on practice management topics. He currently serves on the editorial board of the Contact Lens Spectrum journal, writing the “Materials and Design” Column. He has served as the Chair of the Association of Contact Lens Educators, and been a past Executive Board Member of the International Association of Contact Lens Educators.

He also has served as an advisor and consultant for numerous companies and groups within the contact lens industry.

Dr. Pence is the founding faculty advisor for the Private Practice Club at IUSO, and for the Gold Key Honorary at IUSO, which recognizes outstanding student leadership.