The Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA) has updated their website with information stating “BCBSM has notified MPTA that it will cover CPT Codes 97110, 97112, 97116, 97530 and 97535 via telehealth effective for both commercial and MA population until June 30. The official notification and associated nuances/restrictions will be posted on the Provider Portal soon.”

Effective immediately, all health plans in the state of California shall comply with the following: Health plans shall reimburse providers at the same rate, whether a service isprovided in-person or through telehealth, if the service is the same regardless ofthe modality of delivery, as determined by the provider’s description of theservice on the claim. For example, if a health plan reimburses a mental healthprovider $100 for a 50-minute therapy session conducted in-person, the healthplan shall reimburse the provider $100 for a 50-minute therapy session done viatelehealth. For services provided via telehealth, a health plan may not subject enrollees tocost-sharing greater

Effective March 19, 2020, all outpatient rehabilitative settings shall close and transition to a telehealth platform in accordance with DMS guidance immediately. Click HERE to read it straight from the Governor. Skilled rehabilitation professionals (physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech languagetherapists, and respiratory therapists) shall continue to work in acute care, inpatient rehabilitativesettings, and skilled nursing facilities. Their work will allow patients to heal sooner and return home to their preferred setting. All CDC recommended protective measures shall be in place when providing services to patients. Home health rehabilitation professionals shall use best clinical judgment to determine best practicefor the implementation

QuestionDoes UnitedHealthcare (UHC) pay for telehealth for outpatient physical, occupational and/or speech therapy services? Answer QuestionDoes UnitedHealthcare (UHC) pay for E-Visits under outpatient physical, occupational and/or speech therapy services? Answer QuestionCan I charge UnitedHealthcare (UHC) patients cash for telehealth services if not covered by their plan? Answer I hope you found this article helpful! Thank you for being a Gold Member!

QuestionDoes TRICARE pay for telehealth services for outpatient physical, occupational and/or speech therapy services? Answer QuestionWhat CPT code(s) do I use to bill for telehealth for TRICARE beneficiaries? AnswerThe TRICARE Policy Manual is not clear on what code(s) to use for telehealth services. Your first option is to contact TRICARE. Per the TRICARE Policy Manual, April 2015, Change 60 (March 13, 2020), Chapter 7, Medicine, Section 2.3.2.3, it states the following: “When billing for synchronous telemedicine services, providers will use CPT or HCPCS codes with a GT modifier for distant site and Q3014 for originating site to distinguish telemedicine services. In addition,

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), I am receiving many questions regarding telehealth and the ability for physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to provide telehealth services and to have those services reimbursed by the Medicare program and private/commercial insurance carriers. See below for some of the common questions I receive and the answers as of March 13, 2020. QuestionWith the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services changing the rules and regulations for telehealth services due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), does this now mean physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists can now provide telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries, bill