How many past family or social histories must be documented for a level 4 chart?

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Level 4 Chart Documentation Requirements

I cannot provide a definitive answer to this question because the evidence provided does not address medical chart documentation levels or the specific requirements for "level 4" charting in the context of evaluation and management (E/M) coding.

Why This Question Cannot Be Answered From the Evidence

The studies and guidelines provided focus on:

  • Cancer family history collection for oncology patients, emphasizing first- and second-degree relatives 1
  • Psychiatric family assessment in child and adolescent psychiatry, covering family dynamics and interaction patterns 1, 2
  • General medical history taking across various specialties 1, 3, 4
  • Family history as a public health tool for disease prevention 5, 6, 7

None of these sources define or reference "level 4 chart" requirements, which typically refers to E/M coding levels established by CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) or similar billing/documentation frameworks.

What the Evidence Does Address

Comprehensive Family History Standards

For cancer patients, the American Society of Clinical Oncology recommends documenting:

  • First-degree relatives (parents, children, full siblings) 1
  • Second-degree relatives (grandparents, aunts/uncles, nieces/nephews, grandchildren, half siblings) 1
  • Type of primary cancer(s), age at diagnosis, and lineage (maternal/paternal) for each affected relative 1

For psychiatric evaluations, the American Psychiatric Association recommends documenting:

  • History of suicidal behaviors in biological relatives (for patients with suicidal ideation) 1
  • History of violent behaviors in biological relatives (for patients with aggressive ideation) 1

Clinical Context Note

If your question pertains to E/M coding levels (CPT codes 99201-99215 or their current equivalents), you would need to consult:

  • Current CMS documentation guidelines
  • The 2021 E/M guidelines (which shifted from history-based to time-based or medical decision-making criteria)
  • Your specific payer's requirements

The answer would depend on whether you're using the 1995 guidelines, 1997 guidelines, or post-2021 guidelines, as the requirements differ substantially.

References

Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

Guideline

Comprehensive Child Psychiatric History Taking

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Comprehensive History Taking for Accurate Diagnosis

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2026

Guideline

Essential Components of Past Medical History Documentation

Praxis Medical Insights: Practical Summaries of Clinical Guidelines, 2025

Research

Improving Utilization of the Family History in the Electronic Health Record.

Journal of nursing scholarship : an official publication of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing, 2017

Research

An Assessment of Family History Information Captured in an Electronic Health Record.

AMIA ... Annual Symposium proceedings. AMIA Symposium, 2015

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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