How to Succeed at Telehealth during the COVID-19 Pandemic-Telehealth Webinar Q&A

Telehealth Webinar Q&A

Pdf Summary

The Telehealth Webinar Q&A addresses various aspects of conducting and documenting telehealth visits effectively, particularly during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Documentation is crucial, and clinicians are advised to record the modality of telemedicine, the rationale for using telehealth, and ensure informed consent is obtained. Verification and authentication of the patient's identity are crucial, with the documentation mirroring that for in-person visits, considering clinical judgments and medical records.<br /><br />Telehealth allows physical examinations through electronic means and real-time audiovisual communications. Although audits for claim support by CMS and the OIG have been relaxed during the health crisis, documentation should remain comprehensive.<br /><br />Billing for telehealth services, including first-time visits, follows specific codes outlined by CMS, like 99201-99205 for visits using audio-video systems and online portal visits with codes 99421-99423. The use of G-codes like G2012 for phone calls is applicable, and CMS has clarified modifiers necessary for billing, such as the -95 modifier for all telehealth visits during emergencies.<br /><br />Patient awareness that virtual visits are billable is underscored, with suggestions to integrate this into consent forms. Flexibility in cost-sharing is mentioned due to COVID-19, and procedures during postoperative global periods are specified.<br /><br />The document also sheds light on HIPAA compliance relaxation, noting that the HHS will not penalize physicians using common communication technologies in good faith under emergency conditions. State licensing requirements and cross-state care provision during the emergency are addressed, with advice to maintain current regulatory updates from respective state health departments.<br /><br />Telehealth options for paper record users, suitable platforms, and the inclusion of patient photos in records are explored. Lastly, medical malpractice implications and the recommendation for checking with insurance carriers about telehealth are discussed, alongside practical considerations for using platforms like FaceTime without personal disclosures.

Keywords

telehealth

COVID-19

documentation

billing codes

CMS guidelines

HIPAA compliance

patient consent

state licensing

telemedicine platforms

medical malpractice