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06/01/20

CMS Clarifies Modifiers for E-Visits and Telephone Services

On June 1, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services clarified whether or not the CR modifier must be appended to the Communication Technology Based-Services (CTBS) codes and Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) Level II codes. In addition, CMS clarified whether or not Condition Code DR is required to be used on the UB-04 claim form submitted by institutional providers when billing one of the CTBS codes. QuestionWhat CPT and HCPCS Level II codes are considered CTBS codes? Answer QuestionIs the CR Modifier required to be appended to the CTBS code(s) on the claim form? Answer QuestionIs the

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05/18/20

CMS Clarifies Billing of E-Visits and Telephone Services

This article was updated on May 29, 2020. See below for answers that have been updated. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued guidance regarding the billing of E-Visits and Telephone Services provided by physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. In this article, I will provide you the information via a question and answer format. QuestionWhat is the update that CMS released and how does it pertain to the E-Visits and Telephone Services? Answer (Updated on May 26, 2020) QuestionWhat codes were added to the list of “sometimes therapy” services? Answer QuestionSince the above codes have

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04/09/20

Can an Assistant Provide an E-Visit or Telephone Service

Due to the Public Health Emergency (PHE) as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have designated the following CPT codes and HCPCS Level II codes as “sometimes therapy” CPT codes: G2010: Remote evaluation of recorded video and/or images submitted by an established patient (e.g., store and forward), including interpretation with follow-up with the patient within 24 business hours, not originating from a related E/M service provided within the previous 7 days nor leading to an E/M service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment G2012: Brief communication technology-based

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04/08/20

Difference Between E-Visits and Telephone Services

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

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04/02/20

Telephone Services: CPT Codes 98966 – 98968

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

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04/01/20

CMS Updates Telehealth and Outpatient Therapy Services

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

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