Wiki Telephone services

[mieka.schambach]

My provider is constantly doing phone consults for new issues for established patients over the phone. He spends anywhere from 10-30 mins usually on the phone with patients talking them through their issues. THEY'VE NEVER SEEN US IN THE OFFICE FOR THIS PROBLEM! I believe he should be reimbursed for these phone visits. Is there any way to bill for these?????

 

[mitchellde]

If the patient initiated the call then it can be billed as a telephone call (99441-99443). Many payers will put these to patient responsibility.

 

[jkyles]

Hello,

Medicare created a G-code for some telephone calls and at least a couple of private payers cover it too:

G2012 (Brief communication technology-based service, e.g. virtual check-in, by a physician or other qualified health care professional who can report evaluation and management services, provided to an established patient, 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; 5-10 minutes of medical discussion).

It pays about $14. A couple of details to consider:

1. The patient must consent to the service before the doctor talks to them. [Update: Consent can be verbal but you must document it somewhere.]
3. It can’t be billed when the patient gets in touch about a problem that is related to an E/M visit that took place within the past seven days or the contact leads to a visit with in the next 24 hours or “the soonest available appointment.”

 

[jhendrix08]

I was also wondering about this same thing...thanks for the great info! Really helpful!