Part B Insider (Multispecialty) Coding Alert

Long Distance ESRD Care Made EZ

Medicare will start covering telehealth services for end stage renal disease patients immediately, according to an April 1 transmittal. Once you provide one "hands on" vascular access site examination, you can conduct additional visits with ESRD patients using interactive audio and video telecommunications. You can bill Medicare using telehealth codes G0308-G0309, G0311- G0312 , G0314-G0315 and G0317-G0318. Use the -GT modifier (Via interactive audio and video telecommunications system) and the -GQ modifier (Via asynchronous telecommunications system).

Physician offices can originate telehealth services, but ESRD or dialysis facilities can't, says CMS. And you must be in a rural health professional shortage area or a non-MSA county.

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