Coding Telehealth Visits

Coding telehealth visits changes faster than the weather here in New England. We’ve assembled these resources to answer your questions about what codes to use, when to use POS 02 and when not to use it, whether you need a modifier, when you can use phone only and when you must use real time, audio and visual telecommunications equipment. The changes described below are in effect during the public health emergency.

• Services listed on the CMS list (updated on April 30) may be billed via telehealth. The list indicates which may use audio phone only
• Office and other outpatient visits may be billed based on time or MDM
• The payment rate for telephone only codes was increased to match the payment rate for 99212–99214
• There are other, communications-based technology services that are not considered telehealth services (not on the list) but can be billed.

Telehealth articles

Telemedicine in the time of COVID-19

Is it or isn’t it a telehealth service

Payment for telephone calls

Online digital E/M Codes 99421-99423

Virtual communications codes G2010, G2012

Modifier 95

Modifier CS

Interprofessional consults

Telehealth source documents you can download

Coding and reimbursement during the COVID-19 pandemic

CMS list of telehealth

AMA coding advice

CMS interim rule – March 30, 2020

CMS interim rule – April 30, 2020

CMS enrollment COVID-19PEHotline

Aledade guide to getting started with telehealth

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