Update: Medicare telehealth payment policies The public health emergency federal designation expired March 11, 2023 However, the end of the … [Read more...]
Does a practitioner need to document time for a telehealth visit?
Question: Does a practitioner need to document time for a telehealth visit? What if it is audio only? Answer: First: For a telehealth visit, … [Read more...]
Should we begin using the new CPT modifier -93
Question: Should we begin using the new CPT® modifier -93? Answer: I recommend a wait and see approach. Here’s the definition from the AMA, … [Read more...]
Medicare “Audio-Only” Telehealth Services
CMS issued multiple waivers and two interim final rules to support health care organizations and patients during the public health emergency in spring … [Read more...]
Coding Telehealth Visits: place of service
Information in this article was updated July 2023, based on the 2024 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule Rule. Coding telehealth visits changes faster … [Read more...]
Is it or isn’t it a telehealth service?
Many payers and practices use the broad term telehealth to describe services that are not done face-to-face with a patient CMs describes telehealth … [Read more...]
Specimen Collection For COVID-19
CMS’s 4/30/2020 rule states that practices could bill 99211 for new or established patients during the public health emergency for COVID-19 specimen … [Read more...]
Medicare changes telehealth rules, again
Medicare changes telehealth rules, again: April 30, 2020 interim final rule with comment period … [Read more...]
Telemedicine in RHCs and FQHCs
In April, 2020 CMS released guidance about paying for telehealth services in Rural Health Centers (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers … [Read more...]
Modifier CS: cost sharing for COVID-19 testing and visits related to testing
Effective retroactively to 3/18/20, there is no cost sharing allowed for COVID-19 testing or for the evaluation visits related to the testing … [Read more...]
Payment for telephone calls during the PHE: CMS rules for phone calls
CMS rules for phone calls has changed during the course of the pandemic. Prior to the public health emergency these had a status indicator of … [Read more...]
CPT® codes (99421-99423) – and payment for – online digital evaluation and management (E/M) services
Or, as I call them: message, manage, message. There are CPT codes for online digital E/M services. CPT developed a set of CPT® codes for use … [Read more...]
Overview of Medicare telehealth services
Please see the Telemedicine article for the rules and guidelines for use during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Medicare covers some … [Read more...]
Virtual communication: HCPCS codes G2010, G2012, G2250, G2251, G2252
Virtual communications are not considered telehealth These HCPCS codes were developed by CMS for virtual communication Do not use POS 02 or … [Read more...]
Interprofessional Internet Consultations
CMS recognizes and pays for six codes for interprofessional consults codes 99446–99449, 99451, 99452 These codes were updated in 2023. Codes 99446, … [Read more...]
Modifier 95, 93: telemedicine
CPT has two modifiers for telemedicine. Modifier 95 was an existing modifier from before the public health emergency. They added modifier 93 for … [Read more...]