Telemedicine services (also known as "Telehealth") are services provided from a remote location using a combination of interactive video, audio, and externally acquired images through a networking environment between a member (i.e., the originating site) and a Medicaid-certified provider at a remote location (i.e., distant site). The services must be of sufficient audio and visual fidelity and clarity as to be functionally equivalent to a face-to-face contact. Telemedicine services do not include telephone conversations or Internet-based communication between providers or between providers and members.
All applicable HIPAA confidentiality requirements apply to telemedicine encounters.
The following additional individual providers are reimbursed for selected telemedicine-based services:
These providers may be reimbursed, as appropriate, for the following services provided through telemedicine:
Reimbursement for these services is subject to the same restrictions as face-to-face contacts (e.g., POS, allowable providers, multiple service limitations, PA).
Claims for services performed via telemedicine must include HCPCS modifier "GT" (via interactive audio and video telecommunication systems) with the appropriate procedure code and must be submitted on the 837P transaction or 1500 Health Insurance Claim Form paper claim form. Reimbursement is the same for these services whether they are performed face-to-face or through telemedicine.
Only one eligible provider may be reimbursed per member per DOS for a service provided through telemedicine unless it is medically necessary for the participation of more than one provider. Justification for the participation of the additional provider must be included in the member's medical record.
Separate services provided by separate specialists for the same member at different times on the same DOS may be reimbursed separately.
Claims for services provided through telemedicine by 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 and documented in the same manner as face-to-face services. Coverage is limited to procedure codes 99211 or 99212, as appropriate.
Telemedicine may be reported as an encounter on the cost settlement report for both RHCs and FQHCs when both of the following are true.
Claims for telemedicine services where the originating site is a nursing home should be submitted with the appropriate level office visit or consultation procedure code.
Out-of-state providers, except border-status providers, are required to obtain PA before delivering telemedicine-based services to Wisconsin Medicaid members.
All telemedicine services must be thoroughly documented in the member's medical record in the same way as if it were performed as a face-to-face service.
All members are eligible to receive services through telemedicine. Providers may not require the use of telemedicine as a condition of treating the member. Providers should develop their own methods of informed consent verifying that the member agrees to receive services via telemedicine.
Providers may receive enhanced reimbursement for pediatric services (services for members 18 years of age and under) and HPSA-eligible services performed via telemedicine in the same manner as face-to-face contacts. As with face-to-face visits, HPSA-enhanced reimbursement is allowed when either the member resides in or the provider is located in a HPSA-eligible ZIP code. Providers may submit claims for services performed through telemedicine that qualify for pediatric or HPSA-enhanced reimbursement with both modifier "GT" and the applicable pediatric or HPSA modifier.
An originating site may be reimbursed a facility fee. The originating site is a facility at which the member is located during the telemedicine-based service. It may be a physician's office, a hospital outpatient department, an inpatient facility, or any other appropriate POS with the requisite equipment and staffing necessary to facilitate a telemedicine service. The originating site may not be an emergency room.
Note: The originating site facility fee is not an RHC/FQHC service and, therefore, may not be reported as an encounter on the cost report. Any reimbursement for the originating site facility fee must be reported as a deductive value on the cost report.
The originating site is required to submit claims for the facility fee with HCPCS code Q3014 (Telehealth originating site facility fee). These claims must be submitted on an 837P transaction or a 1500 Health Insurance Claim Form with a POS code appropriate to where the service was provided.
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 03 | School |
| 04 | Homeless Shelter |
| 05 | Indian Health Service Free-Standing Facility |
| 06 | Indian Health Service Provider-Based Facility |
| 07 | Tribal 638 Free-Standing Facility |
| 08 | Tribal 638 Provider-Based Facility |
| 11 | Office |
| 12 | Home |
| 13 | Assisted Living Facility |
| 14 | Group Home |
| 15 | Mobile Unit |
| 20 | Urgent Care Facility |
| 21 | Inpatient Hospital |
| 22 | Outpatient Hospital |
| 24 | Ambulatory Surgical Center |
| 25 | Birthing Center |
| 26 | Military Treatment Center |
| 31 | Skilled Nursing Facility |
| 32 | Nursing Facility |
| 33 | Custodial Care Facility |
| 34 | Hospice |
| 49 | Independent Clinic |
| 50 | Federally Qualified Health Center |
| 51 | Inpatient Psychiatric Facility |
| 52 | Psychiatric Facility Partial Hospitalization |
| 53 | Community Mental Health Center |
| 54 | Intermediate Care Facility/Mentally Disabled |
| 55 | Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility |
| 56 | Psychiatric Residential Treatment Center |
| 57 | Nonresidential Substance Abuse Treatment Facility |
| 60 | Mass Immunization Center |
| 61 | Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility |
| 62 | Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility |
| 65 | End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Facility |
| 71 | Public Health Clinic |
| 72 | Rural Health Clinic |
| 99 | Other Place of Service |
Wisconsin Medicaid will reimburse outpatient hospitals only the facility fee (Q3014) for the service. Wisconsin Medicaid will not separately reimburse an outpatient hospital the rate-per-visit for that member unless other covered outpatient hospital services are also provided beyond those included in the telemedicine service on the same DOS. Professional services provided in the outpatient hospital are separately reimbursable.
"Store and forward" services are not separately reimbursable which are the asynchronous transmission of medical information to be reviewed at a later time by a physician or nurse practitioner at the distant site.