APR 13, 2020
Connectivity Issues During Telemedicine Service
Connectivity Issues During Telemedicine Service
Question: When initiating a virtual face-to-face telemedicine encounter the patient had to disconnect due to technical difficulties and the visit was completed via a phone call. Can we still bill an E/M code being this was the intent of the encounter?
Answer: To bill the E/M codes 99202-99215 as telehealth visits the examination and communication exchange should be the same as when provided face-to-face. This is accomplished providing video and audio capabilities and meeting the coding requirements for this family of codes. Instead, consider the virtual check-in (G2012) or telephone evaluation and management codes 99441-99443.
Visit Coding for telehealth for more information.