Wiki Coding telehealth visits when connection is lost during the visit

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dks423 said:
How should telehealth visits be coded when connection is lost during the encounter? Thank you
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Hi there,
For private payers you'll need to check the specific policy. For Medicare, it depends on when the connection is lost.

26. Question: If the video connection is disconnected during an audio-video Medicare telehealth visit due to technological issues, can the visit still be billed as Medicare telehealth?

Answer: Practitioners should report the code that best describes the service. If the service was furnished primarily through an audio-only connection, practitioners should consider whether the telephone evaluation and management or assessment and management codes best describe the service, or whether the service is best described by one of the behavioral health and education codes for which we have waived the video requirement during the PHE for the COVID-19 pandemic. If the service was furnished primarily using audio-video technology, then the practitioner should bill the appropriate code from the Medicare telehealth list that describes the service.
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Make sure the provider documents the type of connection for all non-face-to-face visits at the start of each encounter, and as noted above, if the encounter converts to audio-only. That way you won't have to worry that the documentation and the code doesn't match. (For example, the doctor notes she looked at the patient's rash and seems to be improving, but you bill an audio-only code.)

Remind providers that they can't count the time it takes to resolve technical difficulties during the encounter and for phone calls in particular, they can only count the time spent on medical discussion.
 
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Hi Dks423:)📞📲
Your provider should put in the documentation for the day that lost video connection but will call patient on cell or home phone. Note this in the documentation then ensure add discuss with pt total amount of minutes on phone. The providers of NP MD PA can use CPT 99441-99443 minutes for phone calls and if QHP, LPC, LCSW or nurse discussing on phone use CPT 98966-98968.
Well hope this data helps you
Lady T:)
 
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