Medicare and private payers cover chronic care management services if a patient has two or more serious conditions that are expected to last at least a year. Medical offices often question the correct way to code for CCM for Medicare. CodingIntel provides the correct way to utilize CPT® 99490, 99439, 99491, 99437, 99487, and 99489. […]
Care Management Services
Technology advances and policy changes mean medical practices can now get paid for certain non-face-to-face services. But, you need to know how to code for them, consent rules, and documentation requirements, and what you’ll be reimbursed for these complex, new services.
Transitional Care Management
This article provides answers to frequently asked questions related to transitional care management services. It includes details about billing for TCM services including: When are CPT® 99495 & 99496 used? What are the requirements for TCM? Can We Code TCM and 99214 Together? Transitional care management for discharge Everyday Coding Q&A – Who needs to […]
Outpatient Diabetes Self-Management Training (DSMT) Services
Medicare covers diabetes self-management training (DSMT) services are a covered benefit under Medicare when all requirements are met. This article will provide an overview of the requirements and provide answers to some commonly asked questions. It will also provide you with links to the source material for DSMT coverage in the CMS Medicare Benefit Policy […]
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, always document if it is with video or audio only. Documenting “telehealth visit” or “telemedicine visit” doesn’t differentiate this. Second: If you are using office visit codes (99202—99215), you can select […]
When to Use CPT® Modifier -93
CodingIntel has a more complete article about modifiers 93 and 95, so be sure to read that. This is a brief Q&A, and doesn’t contain all you need to know. Modifier 95, 93: Telemedicine Question: In 2022, the question was, “should we begin using the new CPT® modifier -93?” Now, the question is, when should […]
Medicare “Audio-Only” Telehealth Services
This post discusses Medicare changes at the START of the PHE. It is for HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY. Some codes in this post have since been deleted. This note added 2/11/2025 CMS issued multiple waivers and two interim final rules to support health care organizations and patients during the public health emergency in spring 2020 Medicare […]
Coding Telehealth Visits: Place of Service
**Just a reminder, as of Jan 1, 2025 telehealth for Medicare is extended until March 31, 2025. Congress needs to act by then. Coding telehealth visits changes faster than the weather here in New England. The resources on the site relate to Medicare policy and CPT codes and rules. Unfortunately, they don’t address individual commercial […]
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 services as non-face-to-face services that are on its telehealth list During the public health emergency, CMS eased the rules related to telehealth The flexibilities remain in effect for RHCs and FQHCs for […]
Specimen Collection For COVID-19
This post discusses Medicare changes at the START of the PHE. It is for HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY 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 collection CPT had previously recommended this The new HCPCS codes (G2023, G2024) for COVID-19 specimen collection […]
Medicare Changes Telehealth Rules, Again
This post discusses Medicare changes at the START of the PHE. It is for HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY. Some codes in this post have since been deleted. This note added 2/11/2025 Medicare changes telehealth rules, again: April 30, 2020 interim final rule with comment period (IFC) https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-final-ifc.pdf CMS released a second IFC with policy changes during […]
Modifier CS: Cost Sharing for COVID-19 Testing and Visits Related to Testing
This post discusses Medicare changes at the START of the PHE. It is for HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY. 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 Medicare instructs us to use modifier CS on the visits and tests, and to contact your […]
Payment for Telephone Calls During the PHE: CMS Rules for Phone Calls
Telephone codes 99441–99443 were deleted from the 2025 CPT book. This post discusses Medicare changes at the START of the PHE. It is for HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY. Some codes in this post have since been deleted. This note added 2/17/2025 CMS rules for phone calls has changed during the course of the pandemic. Prior to […]
Blood Pressure Self-Measurement 99473, 99474 | Reference Sheet
CPT ® codes 99473 and 99474 are used to report specific clinical staff and/or Physician, NP or PA work related to blood pressure self-measurement by patients. This quick reference sheet defines the work, the time required, and lists the criteria for reporting these services.
On-line Digital Services and Remote Monitoring | Webinar
Recorded February 27, 2020
New CPT ® codes for non-face-to-face services include both on-line digital evaluations and remote physiological monitoring. Hold your celebration—the digital E/M codes are not office visits through your portal and have very specific documentation requirements. The webinar will start with a brief overview of Medicare covered telehealth, and then describe these two new sets of codes, with the documentation rules and clinical examples.
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 services performed via real-time audio and video between a patient in an underserved area and a physician or other practitioner who is not in the same place as the patient. Requirements for Medicare telehealth […]
Virtual Communication: HCPCS Codes G2010, G2250, G2251, G2252; CPT® 98016
Virtual communications are not considered telehealth These HCPCS codes were developed by CMS for virtual communication They are not on CMS’s list of telehealth services and do not use real-time, interactive, audio/visual communication They do require verbal consent; a single consent can be obtained for all communications based technology services annually for Medicare patients In […]
Checklist for CPT® code 99483 | cognitive assessment code for dementia
Is your practice performing cognitive assessments for patients with dementia, using CPT® code 99483? If so, use this checklist to make sure you have documented all of the required components.
Advance Care Planning | CPT® 99497, 99498 Video
Advance Care Planning (ACP) 99497 Advance care planning including the explanation and discussion of advance directives such as standard forms (with completion of such forms, when performed), by the physician or other qualified health professional; first 30 minutes, face- to-face with the patient, family member(s) and/or surrogate); +99498 each […]
Don’t forget Care Plan Oversight
There are two sets of codes for care plan oversight, CPT (99374–99380) and HCPCS codes (G0181, G0182). The requirements for each are different, including time thresholds and what activities may be included in the CPO time. Be sure to download the Care Plan Oversight quick reference sheet below.
Coding Guide – Care Management Services
CMS has a stated goal of recognizing management services provided outside of an office visit. In particular, valuing and paying for care management and other non-face-to-face services. Sometimes, this means recognizing existing CPT® codes, and changing the status indicator from bundled to active, so that it is a covered service. Sometimes, it means working with CPT®’s chronic care management committee to develop new codes that describe management services.
CPT® Code 99483: Cognitive Assessment and Care Plan Services
Developed in 2018, this service describes an in-depth assessment and development of care plan services for new or established patients who have signs of cognitive impairment. Notice that the use of this code requires an independent historian, stated right in the CPT description. Cognitive assessment checklist Definition of CPT® code 99483 99483: Assessment of and […]