You can use the 1997 audit guidelines that state an extended history for a patient can be created by updating the status of at least three chronic or inactive conditions that the patient has or has had. It is not imperative that the information be placed in the history of present illness (HPI) section. However what is imperative is that your medical billing reflect the medical documentation of all illness that you choose to use – both past or present- to create an extended history of illness. For audit purposes it is helpful to have the notations in both the HPI section and the assessment section. Most physicians will make …