Wiki Telehealth vs office visits payments

[twiley41]

Do the telehealth visits that are using the E&M codes have reduce payments? For instance, do they pay the same as a regular face to face E&M?

 

[dsolak1965]

Medicare has indicated they will be reimbursing telemed services as the same rate as a regular face to face E/M. In Michigan, several insurances such as BCBS, Medicaid, Priority Health and others have indicated the same. You can check with your local payors.... Hope this helps...

 

[twiley41]

Thank you it does help. In Maryland for Medicaid we bill telephone only visits with modifier UB and a E&M visit. So not sure what their reimbursement would be for telephone only. Im assuming it would definitely be at a reduced rate and them using that modifier will let them know to reduce the rate.

 

[dsolak1965]

I would check with your state Medicaid dept for any change in the telehealth requirements during this pandemic as Michigan Medicaid has changed their requirements indicating that during this pandemic that it is allowable to bill an E/M level for telephonic (audio) only with appropriate modifier GT