Coding News and Expert Advice

Coding News and Expert Advice
Empower your coding team with the up-to-date answers from the Academy's coding experts. Our carefully researched responses cover federal and commercial payers and help you improve documentation, submit clean claims and appropriately maximize reimbursement. Not a AAOE member? Join today.
Note: Coding regulations and edits can change several times a year. All Academy coding advice is based on most current information available at the time of publication. When in doubt, visit aao.org/coding for the most recent updates. Information provided by our coding experts is copyrighted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and intended for individual practice use only.
1-20 of 41 results
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New Patient Billing During Public Health Emergency

AUG 14, 2020 in Ask the Expert, Telemedicine

During our office closure for COVID-19, a former patient of ours had multiple conversations with our on-call physician, none of which were submitted to insurance. She is now coming in for an exam. Because we have not billed an exam in over four years, is she considered new o…

Comments 0

Views 63

Staff Billing 99211

JUN 03, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Question: Can an administrator bill 99211 under physician supervision or must it be a technician?

Comments 0

Views 96

Storing Images During Telemedicince Visits

JUN 03, 2020 in Ask the Expert, Telemedicine

Question: Are we required to print out photos received from the patient when billing G2010?

Comments 0

Views 14

Payers Accepting Time-based Billing

JUN 03, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Question: Is the E/M code level selection based on time as described for Medicare also applicable to commercial insurance visits?

Comments 0

Views 53

Telehealth Video Requirements

JUN 03, 2020 in Ask the Expert, Telemedicine

Question: I’ve heard from someone outside of our practice, that CMS relaxed the video requirement on all E/M codes. Without confirmation from the Academy, we are not comfortable with that. Are we correct?

Comments 0

Views 30

In-office Testing Prior to Virtual Exam

JUN 03, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Question: Can an established patient come to the office for testing by our ophthalmic technician and then have a telehealth virtual face-to-face visit with the physician within seven days?

Comments 0

Views 67

Rebilling Telehealth Codes

JUN 03, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Question: I submitted G2012 as Medicare had a low reimbursement for the telephone exams, however now that they’ve increased rates, should we submit a corrected claim?

Comments 0

Views 21

Telehealth Time Requirements With Eye Visit Codes

JUN 03, 2020 in Ask the Expert, Telemedicine

Question: What are the time requirements to use telemedicine by phone for the eye visit codes 92002-92014?

Comments 0

Views 39

Billing an E/M Code with G2010

JUN 03, 2020 in Ask the Expert, Telemedicine

Question: Can you bill an E/M code (via audio/video) and G2010 or would that be double dipping?

Comments 0

Views 37

Start Date for New Patient Phone Exams

JUN 03, 2020 in Ask the Expert, Telemedicine

Question: What is the effective date for billing phone visits with new patients?

Comments 0

Views 12

Telehealth Billing Without Access to Patient Chart

JUN 03, 2020 in Ask the Expert, Telemedicine

Question: I have a doctor who performed an exam via video conference, however she was unable to access our EHR or the patients record. Since we are including the progress note in the chart, are we able to submit for the service?

Comments 0

Views 3

Coding Top 10:Telehealth Time Requirements with Eye Visit Codes, Re-billing Telehealth Codes, Staff Billing 99211

JUN 03, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert, Coding Updates, Coding Top 10

Get trusted answers to your coding questions from the Academy's coding experts, so you can bill and code with confidence. This month's coding questions focus on telemedicine pertaining to the public health emergency.

Comments 0

Views 646

TPE and RAC Audits Put on Pause

MAY 12, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Question: During the current public health emergency, what is the status of the audits by the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)?

Comments 0

Views 207

Share of Cost Waiver for COVID-19-Related Services

MAY 12, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Question: Will Medicare waive the patient's requirement to pay their deductible?

Comments 0

Views 186

SNF Flexibility During COVID-19 Emergency

MAY 12, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Two areas have been waived by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) when a patient is utilizing Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) benefits.

Comments 0

Views 228

Treating Patients in Nursing Home or Other Facilities

APR 27, 2020 in Coding Updates, Coding Top 10, Telemedicine, Ask the Expert

Question: My physicians are considering going to nursing homes and assisted living facilities to do intraocular injections. I know we need to charge a nursing home visit instead of office visit. The place of service would be nursing facility or assisted-living facility. Woul…

Comments 0

Views 132

Virtual exams with New Nursing Home Patients

APR 27, 2020 in Telemedicine, Ask the Expert, Coding Updates, Coding Top 10

Question: Our physician has been asked to see a new patient who resides in a nursing home. However, the exam will be virtual. How should we submit?

Comments 0

Views 35

Testing Supervision Guidelines During the Public Health Emergency

APR 27, 2020 in Telemedicine, Coding Top 10, Ask the Expert, Coding Updates

Question: Are there changes to supervision of testing services?

Comments 0

Views 37

History Documentation by Staff

APR 27, 2020 in Telemedicine, Coding Top 10, Coding Updates, Ask the Expert

Question: In telemedicine, can the history be taken by phone prior to exam by staff and documented into the medical record?

Comments 0

Views 81

Usage of Locum Tenens During PHE

APR 27, 2020 in Coding Updates, Telemedicine, Coding Top 10, Ask the Expert

Question: How long can a locum tenens (substitute) physician be used during the COVID-19 crisis?

Comments 0

Views 44

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