when it says"in response to a patient's on line inquiry" this means the patient must initiate the email. Here is what the med leran matters said about the use of GQ and GT
In addition, effective January 1, 2008, the
following modifiers are valid when billed
with HCPCS code 96116:
GT Via interactive audio and video telecommunications system
GQ Via asynchronous telecommunications system
The expansion to the list of Medicare
telehealth services does not change the
eligibility criteria, conditions of payment, or payment or
billing methodology applicable to Medicare telehealth services as set forth in the Medicare Benefit
Policy Manual (Publication 100-02, Chapter 15, Section 270) and the MedicareClaims Processing Manual (Publication 100-04, Chapter 12, Section 190).
For example, originating sites must
be located in either a non- Metropolitan Statistical Area (non-MSA) county or rural Health
Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and must be one of the following:
•Physician’s or practitioner’s office,
•Hospital,
•Critical access hospital (CAH),
•Rural health clinic, or
•Federally qualified health center.
Also, an interactive audio and video telecommunications system must be used
permitting real-time communication between the distant site physician orpractitioner and the Medicare beneficiary, and as a condition of payment, thepatient must be presentand participating in the telehealth visit. The onlyexception to the interactive telecommunications requirement is in the case of
Federal telemedicine demonstration programs conducted in Alaska or Hawaii. In this circumstance, Medicare payment is permitted for telehealth services when asynchronous store and forward technology is used.
Effective January 1, 2008,
CR 5628 instructs that:
•Your local part B Carriers and or
A/B MACs will pay for HCPCS code
96116 according to the appropriate physician or practitioner fee schedule
amount when submitted with a GT or GQ modifier, and
•Your local FIs and or A/B MACs
will pay for HCPCS code 96116 when
submitted with a GT or GQ modifier
, by CAHs that have elected Method II
payment on Type of Bill (TOB) 85x.