The author reflects critically on the contemporary pattern of reporting codes of clinical examinations. Based on reflections on the sense of clinical examinations, development of the refunding system with, the tendency of lump payments, findings from revision activities and problems of health policy, the author concludes that it would be useful to reduce the present multigrade system of clinical examinations to a two-grade one: detailed examination and partial examination. Their recording must be ensured in all types of refunding if the health insurance is to meet its legal duty of control of the volume of provided care.

        Key words: clinical examination – health records – problems of auditing activities – medical auditor – medical needs of the population – volume of health care – health policy