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Welcome  » April 29, 2024 8:20 AM
Program Name: BadgerCare Plus and Medicaid Handbook Area: Physician
04/29/2024  

Covered and Noncovered Services : Telehealth

Topic #22737

Behavioral Health Telehealth Services

Behavioral health services should be indicated by the following modifiers.

Modifier Description
FQ* A telehealth service was furnished using audio-only communication technology
FR* A supervising practitioner was present through a real-time two-way, audio/video communication technology
GQ Via asynchronous telecommunications system
GT Via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems

*Use for behavioral health services only.

Topic #22738

Interprofessional Consultations (E-Consults)

An interprofessional consultation or e-consult is an assessment and management service in which a member's treating provider requests the opinion and/or treatment advice of a provider with specific expertise (the consultant) to assist the treating provider in the diagnosis and/or management of the member's condition without requiring the member to have face-to-face contact with the consultant. Both the treating and consulting providers may be reimbursed for the e-consult as described below.

Policy Requirements and Limitations

Consulting Providers

Consulting providers must be physicians enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid as an eligible rendering provider. Consulting providers may bill CPT procedure codes 99446–99449 and 99451 under the following limitations:

  • Services are not covered if the consultation leads to a transfer of care or other face-to-face service within the next 14 days or next available date of the consultant. Additionally, if the sole purpose of the consultation is to arrange a transfer of care or other face-to-face service, these procedure codes should not be submitted.
  • Consulting services are covered once in a seven-day period.

Treating Providers

Treating providers may be a physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or podiatrist enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid as an eligible rendering provider. Treating providers may bill CPT procedure code 99452 as a covered service once in a 14-day period.

Both the consulting and treating providers must be enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid to receive reimbursement for the e-consult and the consultation must be medically necessary.

Providers are expected to follow CPT guidelines including that the CPT procedure codes should not be submitted if the consulting provider saw the member in a face-to-face encounter within the previous 14 days.

Documentation Requirements

The following documentation requirements apply for e-consults:

  • The consulting provider's opinion must be documented in the member's medical record.
  • The written or verbal request for a consultation by the treating provider must be documented in the member's medical record including the reason for the request.
  • Verbal consent for each consultation must be documented in the member's medical record. The member's consent must include assurance that the member is aware of any applicable cost-sharing.
Topic #22739

Originating and Distant Sites

The originating site is where the member is located during a telehealth visit. Only the provider at the originating site can bill for an originating site fee for hosting the member. The originating site should not use telehealth modifiers on the claims since all services are provided in-person. The distant site is where the provider is located during the telehealth visit. The provider who is providing health care services to the member via telehealth cannot bill the originating site fee because they are not hosting the member.

The following locations are eligible for the originating site fee under permanent telehealth policy:

  • Office or clinic:
    • Medical
    • Dental
    • Therapies (physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech and language pathology)
    • Behavioral and mental health agencies
  • Hospital
  • Skilled nursing facility
  • Community mental health center
  • Intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities
  • Pharmacy
  • Day treatment facility
  • Residential substance use disorder treatment facility

Claims Submission and Reimbursement for Distant Site Providers

Claims for services provided via telehealth by distant site providers must be billed with the same procedure code as would be used for a face-to-face encounter along with modifiers GQ, GT, FQ, or 93.

Note: Only the service rendered from the distant site must be billed with modifier GQ. The originating site for asynchronous services is not eligible to receive an originating site fee.

Claims must also include either POS code 02 or 10. ForwardHealth reimburses the service rendered by distant site providers at the same rate as when the service is provided face-to-face.

Ancillary Providers

Claims for services provided via telehealth by distant site ancillary providers should continue to be submitted under the supervising physician's NPI using the lowest appropriate level office or outpatient visit procedure code or other appropriate CPT code for the service performed. These services must be provided under the direct on-site supervision of a physician who is located at the same physical site as the ancillary provider and must be documented in the same manner as services that are provided face to face.

Refer to the Supervision topic for additional information.

Pediatric and Health Professional Shortage Area-Eligible Services

Claims for services provided via telehealth by distant site providers may additionally qualify for pediatric (services for members 18 years of age and under) or HPSA-enhanced reimbursement. Pediatric and HPSA-eligible providers are required to indicate POS code 02 or 10, along with modifier GQ, GT, FQ, or 93 and the applicable pediatric or HPSA modifier, when submitting claims that qualify for enhanced reimbursement.

Claims Submission and Reimbursement for Originating Site Fee

In addition to reimbursement to the distant site provider, ForwardHealth reimburses an originating site fee for the staff and equipment at the originating site requisite to provide a service via telehealth. Eligible providers who serve as the originating site should bill the fee with HCPCS procedure code Q3014 (Telehealth originating site fee). Modifier GQ, GT, FQ, or 93 should not be included with procedure code Q3014.

Outpatient hospitals, including emergency departments, must bill HCPCS procedure code Q3014 on an institutional claim form as a separate line item with revenue code 0780. ForwardHealth will reimburse hospitals for the fee based on the standard hospital reimbursement methodology. ForwardHealth will reimburse these providers for the fee based on the provider's standard reimbursement methodology.

All other providers should bill HCPCS procedure code Q3014 with a POS code that represents where the member is located during the service. The POS must be a ForwardHealth-allowable originating site for HCPCS procedure code Q3014 in order to be reimbursed for the originating site fee. Billing-only provider types must include an allowable rendering provider on the claim form. The originating site fee is reimbursed based on a maximum allowable fee.

Although FQHCs are not directly reimbursed an originating site fee, HCPCS procedure code Q3014 should be billed for tracking purposes and for consideration in any potential future changes in scope.

To receive reimbursement, the originating site must:

  • Utilize an interactive audiovisual telecommunications system that permits real-time communication between the provider at the distant site and the member at the originating site.
  • Be in a physical location that ensures privacy.
  • Provide access to broadband internet with sufficient bandwidth to transmit audio and video data.
  • Provide access to support staff to assist with technical components of the telehealth visit.
  • Be compliant with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 standards.

Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics

For the purpose of this Online Handbook topic, FQHC refers to Tribal and Out-of-State FQHCs. This topic does not apply to Community Health Centers subject to PPS reimbursement.

FQHCs and RHCs may serve as originating site and distant site providers for telehealth services.

Distant Site

FQHCs and RHCs may report services provided via telehealth on the cost settlement report when the FQHC or RHC served as the distant site and the member is an established patient of the FQHC or RHC at the time of the telehealth service. For currently covered services, services that are considered direct when provided in-person will be considered direct when provided via telehealth for FQHCs.

Services billed with modifier GQ, GT, FQ, or 93 will be considered under the PPS reimbursement method for non-tribal FQHCs. Billing HCPCS procedure code T1015 (Clinic visit/encounter, all-inclusive) with a telehealth procedure code will result in a PPS rate for fee-for-service encounters. Fee-for-service claims must include HCPCS procedure code T1015 when services are provided via telehealth in order for proper reimbursement.

Originating Site

The originating site fee is not a FQHC or RHC reportable encounter on the cost report. Any reimbursement for the originating site fee must be reported as a deductive value on the cost report.

Topic #22740

Remote Patient Monitoring

Remote Physiologic Monitoring

Remote physiologic monitoring is the collection and interpretation of a member's physiologic data, such as blood pressure or weight checks, that are digitally transmitted to a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant for use in the treatment and management of medical conditions that require frequent monitoring. Such conditions include congestive heart failure, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, wound care, polypharmacy, and mental or behavioral problems. It is also used for members receiving technology-dependent care, such as continuous oxygen, ventilator care, total parenteral nutrition, or enteral feeding.

Eligible Devices

The device used to capture a member's physiologic data must meet the Food and Drug Administration definition of a medical device. To submit claims for CPT procedure codes 99453–99458, the members' physiologic data must be wirelessly synced so it can be evaluated by the physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Transmission can be synchronous or asynchronous (data does not have to be transmitted in real time as long as it is automatically updated on an ongoing basis for the provider to review).

Policy Requirements

The following policy requirements apply for remote physiologic monitoring services:

  • Only physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants enrolled in ForwardHealth are eligible to render and submit claims for remote physiologic services.
  • The member's consent for remote physiologic monitoring services must be documented in the member's medical record.
  • The provider must document how remote physiologic monitoring is tied to the member-specific needs and will assist the member to achieve the goals of treatment.
  • Services are not separately reimbursable if the services are bundled or covered by other procedure codes (for example, continuous glucose monitoring is covered under CPT procedure code 95250 and should not be submitted under CPT procedure codes 99453–99454).
  • CPT procedure codes 99453 and 99454 can be used for blood pressure remote physiologic monitoring if the device used to measure blood pressure meets remote physiologic monitoring requirements. If the member self-reports blood pressure readings, the provider must instead submit self-measured blood pressure monitoring CPT procedure codes 99473–99474.
  • CPT procedure code 99457 should be used when the physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant uses medical decision making based on interpreted data received from a remote physiologic monitoring device to assess the member's clinical stability, communicate the results to the member, and oversee the management and/or coordination of services as needed.

Providers are expected to follow CPT guidelines.

Claim Submission

Special modifiers are not required or requested for remote physiologic monitoring services. Providers should follow appropriate claim submission requirements as outlined in the Online Handbook.

Topic #22757

Supervision

Supervision requirements and respective telehealth allowances vary depending on service and provider type. Some supervision requirements necessitate the physical presence of the supervising provider to meet the requirements of appropriate delivery of supervision. Such requirements cannot be met through the provision of telehealth, including audio-visual delivery.

Providers who deliver services with supervision requirements are reminded to review ForwardHealth policy, including permanent telehealth policy, and the requirements of their licensing and/or certifying authorities to determine if the supervisory components of the service can be met via telehealth.

Supervision of Paraprofessional Providers

Paraprofessional providers are subject to supervision requirements. Paraprofessional providers are providers who do not hold a license to practice independently but are providing services under the direction of a licensed provider. Providers who supervise paraprofessionals are responsible for confirming if the required components of supervision can be met through telehealth delivery.

Personal Care/Home Health Provider Supervision

Supervision of PCWs and home health aides must be performed on site and in person by the RN. State rules and regulations necessitate supervising providers to physically visit a member's home and directly observe the paraprofessional providing services.

Direct Supervision for Ancillary Care Providers

Ancillary providers have specific requirements when providing care via telehealth. These providers are health care professionals that are not enrolled in Wisconsin Medicaid, such as staff nurses, dietician counselors, nutritionists, health educators, genetic counselors, and some nurse practitioners who practice under the direct supervision of a physician and bill under the supervising physician's NPI. (Nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, and anesthetists who are Medicaid-enrolled should refer to their service-specific area of the Online Handbook for billing information).

For telehealth services, the supervising physician is not required to be onsite, but they must be able to interact with the member using real-time audio or audiovisual communication, if needed. For supervision of ancillary providers, remote supervision is allowed in circumstances where the physician feels the member is not at risk of an adverse event that would require hands-on intervention from the physician.

Supervision for Behavioral Health Services

The FR modifier should be used for behavioral health services where the supervising provider is present through audio-visual means and the patient and supervised provider are in-person.

Documenting Supervision Method

Providers should include how the service and the required supervision occurred in the member record and, if applicable, indicate the appropriate modifier on the claim form. For example, for a behavioral health service where the supervising provider is present through audio-visual means and the patient and supervised provider are in-person, modifier FR should be indicated on the claim.

Topic #22837

Telehealth Definitions

General Telehealth Definitions

"Telehealth" means the use of telecommunications technology by a Medicaid-enrolled provider to deliver functionally equivalent health care services including: assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and transfer of medically relevant data. Telehealth may include real-time interactive audio-only communication. Telehealth does not include communication between a provider and a member that consists solely of an email, text, or fax transmission.

"Synchronous" telehealth services are two-way, real-time, interactive communications. They may include audio-only (telephone) or audio-visual communications.

"Asynchronous" telehealth services are defined as telehealth that is used to transmit medical data about a patient to a provider when the transmission is not a two-way, real-time, interactive communication.

"Functionally equivalent" means that when a service is provided via telehealth, the transmission of information must be of sufficient quality as to be the same level of service as an in-person visit. Transmission of voices, images, data, or video must be clear and understandable.

Telehealth Service Definitions

The following are definitions to clarify the meaning of existing terms that describe different modes of telehealth service delivery in telehealth policy.

"In-person" refers to when the provider rendering a service and the member receiving that service are located together physically in the same space. In-person services are not considered to be delivered through telehealth, including audio-visual telehealth, unless there are applicable supervision components and requirements that are rendered through telehealth outside of the direct patient contact by the provider.

"Face-to-face" refers to requirements that can be met either in-person or through real-time, interactive audio-visual telehealth. An interactive telehealth service with face-to-face components must be functionally equivalent to an in-person service. It is delivered from outside the physical presence of a Medicaid member by using audio-visual technology, and there is no reduction in quality, safety, or effectiveness. ForwardHealth does not consider a "face-to-face" requirement to be met by audio-only or asynchronous delivery of services.

Under telehealth policy, "direct" refers to an in-person contact between a member and a provider. Direct services often require a provider to physically touch or examine the recipient and delegation is not appropriate.

Topic #510

Telehealth Policy

Both synchronous (two-way, real-time, interactive communications) and asynchronous (information stored and forwarded to a provider for later review) services identified under permanent policy may be reimbursed when provided via telehealth (also known as "telemedicine"). ForwardHealth will require providers to follow permanent billing guidelines for both synchronous and asynchronous telehealth services.

Telehealth enables a provider who is located at a distant site to render the service remotely to a member located at an originating site using a combination of interactive video, audio, and externally acquired images through a networking environment.

"Telehealth" means the use of telecommunications technology by a Medicaid-enrolled provider to deliver functionally equivalent health care services including assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, and transfer of medically relevant data. Telehealth may include real-time interactive audio-only communication. Telehealth does not include communication between a provider and a member that consists solely of an email, text, or fax transmission.

"Functionally equivalent" means that when a service is provided via telehealth, the transmission of information must be of sufficient quality as to be the same level of service as an in-person visit. Transmission of voices, images, data, or video must be clear and understandable.

Note: Temporary telehealth policy that will become permanent policy shortly after the Federal Health Emergency expires is included in this topic.

Telehealth Policy Requirements

The following requirements apply to the use of telehealth:

  • Both the member and the provider of the health care service must agree to the service being performed via telehealth. If either the member or provider decline the use of telehealth for any reason, the service should be performed in-person.
  • The member retains the option to refuse the delivery of health care services via telehealth at any time without affecting their right to future care or treatment and without risking the loss or withdrawal of any program benefits to which they would otherwise be entitled.
  • Medicaid-enrolled providers must be able and willing to refer members to another provider if necessary, such as when telehealth services are not appropriate or cannot be functionally equivalent, or the member declines a telehealth visit.
  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 requires recipients of federal financial assistance to take reasonable steps to make their programs, services, and activities accessible by eligible persons with limited English proficiency.
  • The Americans with Disabilities Act requires that health care entities provide full and equal access for people with disabilities.

Allowable Services

Providers should refer to the Max Fee Schedules page for a complete list of services allowed under permanent telehealth policy. Effective for dates of service on and after April 1, 2022, procedure codes for services allowed under permanent telehealth policy have POS codes 02 and 10 listed as an allowable POS in the fee schedule. Complete descriptions of these POS codes are as follows:

  • POS code 02: Telehealth Provided Other Than in Patient's Home–The location where health services and health related services are provided or received through telecommunication technology. Patient is not located in their home when receiving health services or health related services through telecommunication technology.
  • POS code 10: Telehealth Provided in Patient's Home–The location where health services and health related services are provided or received through telecommunication technology. Patient is located in their home (which is a location other than a hospital or other facility where the patient receives care in a private residence) when receiving health services or health related services through telecommunication technology.

Claims for services delivered via telehealth must include all modifiers required by the existing benefit coverage policy in order to reimburse the claim correctly. Telehealth delivery of the service is shown on the claim by indicating POS code 02 or 10 and including either the GQ, GT, FQ, or 93 modifier in addition to any other required benefit-specific modifiers.

County-administered programs, school-based services, and any other programs that utilize cost reporting must include required modifiers, such as renderer credentials and group versus individual services, as well as correct details for cost reporting to ensure correct reimbursement.

Note: The GT, FQ or 93 modifiers may not be listed on the fee schedule, but it is still required on all claim submissions that use POS code 02 or 10 to indicate the telehealth service was performed synchronously. The GQ modifier is required to indicate the telehealth service was performed asynchronously.

Services Not Appropriate Via Telehealth

Certain types of benefits or services that are not appropriately delivered via telehealth include:

  • Services that are not covered when provided in-person.
  • Services that do not meet applicable laws, regulations, licensure requirements, or procedure code definitions if delivered via telehealth.
  • Services where a provider is required to physically touch or examine the recipient and delegation is not appropriate.
  • Services the provider declines to deliver via telehealth.
  • Services the recipient declines to receive via telehealth.
  • Transportation services.
  • Services provided by personal care workers, home health aides, private duty nurses, or school-based service care attendants.

Reimbursement for Covered Services

The health care provider at the distant site must determine the following:

  • The service delivered via telehealth meets the procedural definition and components of the CPT or HCPCS procedure code, as defined by the American Medical Association, or the CDT procedure code, as defined by the American Dental Association.
  • The service is functionally equivalent to an in-person service for the individual member and circumstances.

Reimbursement is not available for services that cannot be provided via telehealth due to technical or equipment limitations.

Documentation Requirements

Documentation requirements for a telehealth service are the same as for an in-person visit and must accurately reflect the service rendered. Documentation must identify the delivery mode of the service when provided via telehealth and document the following:

  • Whether the service was provided via audio-visual telehealth, audio-only telehealth, or via telehealth externally acquired images
  • Whether the service was provided synchronously or asynchronously

Additional information for which documentation is recommended, but not required, includes:

  • Provider location (for example, clinic [city/name], home, other)
  • Member location (for example, clinic [city/name], home)
  • All clinical participants, as well as their roles and actions during the encounter (This could apply if, for example, a member presents at a clinic and receives telehealth services from a provider at a different location.)

As a reminder, documentation for originating sites must support the member's presence in order to submit a claim for the originating site fee. In addition, if the originating site provides and bills for services in addition to the originating site fee, documentation in the member's medical record should distinguish between the unique services provided.

Audio-Only Guidelines

When possible, telehealth services should include both an audio and visual component. In circumstances where audio-visual telehealth is not possible due to member preference or technology limitations, telehealth may include real-time interactive audio-only communication if the provider feels the service is functionally equivalent to the in-person service and there are no face-to-face or in-person restrictions listed in the procedural definition of the service.

Documentation should include that the service was provided via interactive synchronous audio-only telehealth.

Modifier 93 should be used for any service performed via audio-only telehealth. The GT modifier should only be used to indicate services that were performed using audio-visual technology.

Member Consent Guidelines for Telehealth

On at least an annual basis, providers should supply and document that:

  • The member expressed an understanding of their right to decline services provided via telehealth.
  • Providers should develop and implement their own methods of informed consent to verify that a member agrees to receive services via telehealth. These methods must comply with all federal and state regulations and guidelines.
  • Providers have flexibility in determining the most appropriate method to capture member consent for telehealth services. Examples of allowable methods include educating the member and obtaining verbal consent prior to the start of treatment or telehealth consent and privacy considerations as part of the notice of privacy practices.

Privacy and Security

Providers are required to follow federal laws to ensure member privacy and security. This may include ensuring that:

  • The location from which the service is delivered via telehealth protects privacy and confidentiality of member information and communications.
  • The platforms used to connect to the member to the telehealth visit are secure.

Group Treatment

Additional privacy considerations apply to members participating in group treatment via telehealth. Group leaders should provide members with information on the risks, benefits, and limits to confidentiality related to group telehealth and document the member's consent prior to the first session. Group leaders should adhere to and uphold the highest privacy standards possible for the group.

Group members should be instructed to respect the privacy of others by not disclosing group members' images, names, screenshots, identifying details, or circumstances. Group members should also be reminded to prevent non-group members from seeing or overhearing telehealth sessions.

Providers may not compel members to participate in telehealth-based group treatment and should make alternative services available for members who elect not to participate in telehealth-based group treatment.

Costs Member Cannot Be Billed For

The following cannot be billed to the member:

  • Telehealth equipment like tablets or smart devices
  • Charges for mailing or delivery of telehealth equipment
  • Charges for shipping and handling of:
    • Diagnostic tools
    • Equipment to allow the provider to assess, diagnose, repair, or set up medical supplies online such as hearing aids, cochlear implants, power wheelchairs, or other equipment

Allowable Providers

There is no restriction on the location of a distant site provider. In addition, there are no limitations on what provider types may be reimbursed for telehealth services.

Requirements and Restrictions

Services provided via telehealth must be of sufficient audio and visual fidelity and clarity as to be functionally equivalent to a face-to-face visit where both the rendering provider and member are in the same physical location. Both the distant and originating sites must have the requisite equipment and staffing necessary to provide the telehealth service.

Coverage of a service provided via telehealth is subject to the same restrictions as when the service is provided face to face (for example, allowable providers, multiple service limitations, PA).

Providers are reminded that HIPAA confidentiality requirements apply to telehealth services. When a covered entity or provider utilizes a telehealth service that involves PHI, the entity or provider will need to conduct an accurate and thorough assessment of the potential risks and vulnerabilities to PHI confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Each entity or provider must assess what are reasonable and appropriate security measures for their situation.

Note: Providers may not require the use of telehealth as a condition of treating a member. Providers must develop and implement their own methods of informed consent to verify that a member agrees to receive services via telehealth. These methods must comply with all federal and state regulations and guidelines.

Noncovered Services

Services that are not covered when delivered in person are not covered as telehealth services. In addition, services that are not functionally equivalent to the in-person service when provided via telehealth are not covered.

Additional Policy for Certain Types of Providers

Out-of-State Providers

ForwardHealth policy for services provided via telehealth by out-of-state providers is the same as ForwardHealth policy for services provided face to face by out-of-state providers.

Out-of-state providers who meet the definition of a border-status provider as described in Wis. Admin. Code § DHS 101.03(19) and who provide services to Wisconsin Medicaid members only via telehealth, may apply for enrollment as Wisconsin telehealth-only border-status providers if they are licensed in Wisconsin under applicable Wisconsin statute and administrative code.

Out-of-state providers who do not have border status enrollment with Wisconsin Medicaid are required to obtain PA before providing services via telehealth to BadgerCare Plus or Medicaid members.

Note: Wisconsin Medicaid is prohibited from paying providers located outside of the United States and its territories, including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Topic #22741

Telestroke Services

Telestroke, also known as stroke telemedicine, is a delivery mechanism of telehealth services that aims to improve access to recommended stroke treatment.

ForwardHealth allows providers to be reimbursed for telestroke services. Telestroke services typically consist of the member and emergency providers at an originating site consulting with a specialist located at a distant site.

Claims Submission for Telestroke Services

Providers are required to use CPT consultation and E&M procedure codes when billing telestroke services. Telestroke services are subject to the same enrollment policy, coverage policy, and billing policy as telehealth services. All other services rendered by the provider at the originating site, and by any providers to which the member is transferred, should be billed in the same manner as visits or admissions that do not involve telehealth services.

Originating sites that have established contractual relationships for telestroke services may bill as they would for any other contracted professional services for both the professional service claim on behalf of the distant site provider and the originating site fee.

Topic #22742

Virtual Check-In, E-Visit, and Telephone Evaluation and Management Services

ForwardHealth includes virtual check-in and e-visit options for members to connect with their providers remotely.

A virtual check-in is a brief patient-initiated asynchronous or synchronous communication and technology-based service intended to be used to decide whether an office visit or other service is needed. The encounter may involve synchronous discussion over a phone or exchange of information through video or image. A provider may respond to the member's concern by phone, audio-visual communications, or a secure patient portal. Covered services include both the remote evaluation of a recorded video or image submitted by a member and the interpretation and follow-up by the provider.

An e-visit is a communication between a member and their provider through an online HIPAA-compliant patient portal. These patient-initiated asynchronous services involve a member having non-face-to-face communications cumulatively over a span of seven days with a provider with whom they have an established relationship. Providers who can bill E&M services may utilize online digital E&M codes while other providers may be eligible to bill online assessment and management codes.

Allowable procedure codes for virtual check-in and e-visit services:

Virtual Check-In Procedure Code Description
Physician Services
G2010 Remote evaluation of recorded video and/or images submitted by an established patient (eg, store and forward), including interpretation with follow-up with the patient within 24 business hours, not originating from a related E&M service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to an E&M service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment
G2012 Brief communication technology-based service (eg, virtual check-in), by a physician or other qualified health care professional who can report evaluation and management services, provided to an established patient, not originating from a related E&M service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to an E&M service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 5–10 minutes of medical discussion
G2252 Brief communication technology-based service (eg, virtual check-in), by a physician or other qualified health care professional who can report Evaluation and Management services, provided to an established patient, not originating from a related E&M service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to an E&M service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 11–20 minutes of medical discussion
Therapies (PT, OT, SLP) Services
G2250 Remote assessment of recorded video and/or images submitted by an established patient (eg, store and forward), including interpretation with follow-up with the patient within 24 business hours, not originating from a related service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to a service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment
G2251 Brief communication technology-based service (eg, virtual check-in), by a qualified health care professional who cannot report Evaluation and Management services, provided to an established patient, not originating from a related service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to a service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 5–10 minutes of clinical discussion
E-Visit Procedure Code Description
Therapies (PT, OT, SLP) Services
98970 Qualified nonphysician health care professional online digital assessment and management, for an established patient, for up to seven days, cumulative time during the seven days; 5–10 minutes
98971 Qualified nonphysician health care professional online digital assessment and management service, for an established patient, for up to seven days, cumulative time during the seven days; 11–20 minutes
98972 Qualified nonphysician health care professional online digital assessment and management service, for an established patient, for up to seven days, cumulative time during the seven days; 21 or more minutes
Physician Services
99421 Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, for up to seven days, cumulative time during the seven days; 5–10 minutes
99422 Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, for up to seven days, cumulative time during the seven days; 11–20 minutes
99423 Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, for up to seven days, cumulative time during the seven days; 21 or more minutes

These services do not require prior authorization and are patient-initiated by established patients of the provider's practice.

Virtual check-in and e-visit telehealth services are not covered or billable if they:

  • Take place during an in-person visit.
  • Take place within seven days after an in-person visit furnished by the same provider.
  • Trigger an in-person visit within 24 hours or the soonest available appointment.
  • Do not have sufficient information from the remote evaluation of an image or video (store and forward) for the provider to complete the service.

Only the relevant in-person procedure code that was rendered would be reimbursed if any of the above conditions apply.

Telephone Evaluation and Management Services

ForwardHealth allows the following procedure codes to be reimbursable for telephone E&M services:

Telephone E&M Services Procedure Code Description
Physician Services
99441 Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician or other qualified health professional who may report evaluation and management services provided to an established patient, parent, or guardian not originating from a related E&M service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to an E&M service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 5–10 minutes of medical discussion
99442 Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician or other qualified health professional who may report evaluation and management services provided to an established patient, parent, or guardian not originating from a related E&M service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to an E&M service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 11–20 minutes of medical discussion
99443 Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician or other qualified health professional who may report evaluation and management services provided to an established patient, parent, or guardian not originating from a related E&M service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to an E&M service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 21–30 minutes of medical discussion
 
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