Total time = face-to-face + qualifying non–face-to-face work
• Face-to-face: time with patient/family doing history, exam, counseling, shared decision-making.
• Qualifying non–face-to-face (same day, this visit only): reviewing today's records/tests, obtaining collateral history, ordering tests/meds, documenting the note, and coordinating care.
• Do not count: time for separately billed services, generic inbox/paperwork, teaching, or work on other dates.

Typical office time grid (reference only):
• Straightforward – 99202 (new 15–29) / 99212 (est 10–19) min
• Low – 99203 (new 30–44) / 99213 (est 20–29) min
• Moderate – 99204 (new 45–59) / 99214 (est 30–39) min
• High – 99205 (new 60–74+) / 99215 (est 40–54+) min

Time does not apply to TCM. 99495/99496 are selected by medical decision making and the visit window, not by total minutes.

Re-enter time every visit. A copied-forward time statement can't be billed on — coding will default to MDM. Avoid "greater than" phrasing; state actual minutes.

Any time you add must reflect time actually spent, and a late entry must follow institutional addendum policy.

Example dotphrase:
.EMTIME Total time personally spent on the date of service on this encounter (including pre-visit review, face-to-face evaluation/management, and post-visit documentation and care coordination, excluding separately billable services): ____ minutes.