As you can imagine, providers of outpatient therapy services are confused regarding E-Visits and Telephone Services and what is the difference between them and when do I use each one. In this article, I will answer some of the more frequent questions I am receiving regarding the differences between E-Visits and Telephone Services. If you have not read my article on Telephone Services I published on April 2, 2020, click HERE. In addition, check out my FAQs on E-Visits for Therapy Services. QuestionWhat are the E-Visit codes I should use for traditional Medicare? Answer QuestionWhat are the E-Visit codes I

On April 5, 2020 at 11:50pm CDT, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) posted an updated about telehealth services for physical, occupational and speech therapy services. If you submit claims on either a 1500-claim form or a UB-04 claim form, this is a must read article. The new update now states the following: Reimbursable codes are limited to the specific set of physical, occupational and speech therapy codes listed I hope you found this article helpful, especially if you are not a private practice. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

Last week, Aetna announced they were expanding telehealth services to outpatient therapy services until June 4, 2020. That’s the good news! Now for the not-so-good news. Try finding this announcement anywhere on the Aetna website. Lucky for you as a Gold Member, I will give you the step-by-step instructions how to access this announcement from Aetna and get the reference that you need. As an Aetna provider, you must I hope you found this article helpful. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

On March 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule with comment period discussing CPT codes 98966, 98967 and 98968. The description of each of these CPT codes per the American Medical Association CPT 2020 Professional Edition, page 747 are as follows: 98966: Telephone assessment and management service provided by a qualified nonphysician health care professional to an established patient, parent, or guardian not originating from a related assessment and management service provided within the previous 7 days nor leading to an assessment and management service or procedure within the next 24 hours

On March 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued an interim final rule with comment period titled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Policy and Regulatory Revisions in Response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency“. This interim final rule with comment period contains important information for not only outpatient physical, occupational and speech-language pathology therapy services, but also therapy provided under a Home Health Agency plan of care and inpatient rehabilitation facilities. Lets start with outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services and find out what’s new! QuestionDid CMS add physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs) and speech-language

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many providers of outpatient therapy services are implementing telehealth services to meet the needs of their patients. Since many have never provided telehealth services previously, they are uncertain how to do the billing. In addition, insurance carriers who are expanding telehealth coverage, either voluntarily or state mandated, may not have guidance for providers regarding the billing of outpatient therapy telehealth services. In this article, I will provide answers and/or guidance on some of the questions I have been receiving. QuestionDoes the Medicare program pay for telehealth services provided by a physical therapist, occupational therapist or

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, many private practices and organizations are asking about their ability to provide therapy services to their patients via telehealth or some other type of virtual service. To read my article on telehealth services provided by physical therapists (PTs), occupational therapists (OTs) and speech-language pathologists (SLPs), click HERE.

Here are 2 updates regarding telehealth services being expanded to outpatient therapy services. Effective March 30, 2020, NC Medicaid is temporarily modifying its Telemedicine and Telepsychiatry Clinical Coverage Policy to better enable the delivery of remote care to Medicaid and NC Health Choice beneficiaries. These temporary changes will be retroactive to March 10, 2020, and will end the earlier of the cancellation of the North Carolina state of emergency declaration or when this policy is rescinded. Click HERE to read the special bulletin and its application to outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services. Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of North Carolina