How should MTM encounter notes be started?

• A. Start in note with date and materials.
• B. Begin with patient demographics.
• C. Start with billing codes.
• D. Begin with follow-up date.

Answer: (A)

MTM notes should begin by recording the date of the encounter and the materials reviewed. This immediately establishes when the review happened and what information guided the assessment, such as the medication list, patient interview details, lab results, and other records. Starting with date and materials provides a clear, auditable foundation for the rest of the note—planning, recommendations, and any follow-up. While patient demographics are important in the chart, they aren’t the opening line of the encounter narrative. Billing codes are tied to billing, not the clinical narrative of the MTM review. The follow-up date belongs in the plan or follow-up section, not at the very start of the note. Open with date and materials to set the scope and context for everything that follows.