Which of the following is NOT a key component for E/M coding?

The aspect that is not considered a key component for Evaluation and Management (E/M) coding is coordination of care. E/M coding primarily focuses on specific elements that contribute to determining the complexity of a visit and appropriately categorizing the service provided.

Key components of E/M coding include:

• The level of history obtained, which involves the thoroughness and detail of the patient history collected during the visit, such as past medical history and reviewing systems.

• The degree of medical decision making involved, which assesses the complexity in determining a diagnosis and management plan for the patient's condition, factoring in the amount of data reviewed and the risk associated with the patient's problem.

• The nature of the presenting problem, which evaluates the urgency and severity of the patient’s condition, helping to determine the intensity of the service rendered.

Coordination of care, while an important aspect of patient management, is not directly included as a key component in the coding criteria for E/M services. Therefore, it does not influence the coding level as much as the other components do.