Coronavirus Covid-19 Coding Documentation
Coding & Documentation for Covid-19
We will be updating this page often to provide current information on coding and documentation practices for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
COVID-19 On-Demand Webinar Series
The National Alliance of Medical Auditing Specialists (NAMAS). a division of DoctorsManagement, has produced a series of on-demand education sessions to assist you in preparations for handling the COVID-19 pandemic in your office. Topics include:
- HR Pandemic Quandries
- Practice Management Staffing Considerations
- Telehealth/Telemedicine Services
- Viral Coding Conundrum
- Servicing the Pandemic: Training for the Provider
UnitedHealthcare Updated their Telehealth Usage on April 8, 2020
April 8, 2020 – UHC updated their telehealth guidance and clarified one way video usage as a billable E&M office/outpatient code, which means if the patient does not have video rather audio only- the provider can still report the E&M service code. Visit the UHC COVID-19 Telehealth Page
Q&A – Telehealth Billing & Coding for Non-video Phone Calls
QUESTION: What are requirements to use regular office visit codes (for example 99213 or 99214) with Telehealth? Can regular office visit codes be used for a phone call between the provider and a patient?
ANSWER: No. The provider must use telecommunication application, which infers video and audio, however, they can use that via cellphone. This is causing the confusion. For example, Facetime counts through your cell phone, however, an audio only call does NOT count. Click to read the complete answer…
Today (March 22, 2020), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced unprecedented relief for the clinicians, providers, and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting programs including the 1.2 million clinicians in the Quality Payment Program and on the front lines of America’s fight against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click to read the announcement
Today (March 22, 2020), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced unprecedented relief for the clinicians, providers, and facilities participating in Medicare quality reporting programs including the 1.2 million clinicians in the Quality Payment Program and on the front lines of America’s fight against the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). Click to read the announcement
Physicians Assistants and Telehealth / Telemedicine
This article clarifies the confusion as to whether Physician Assistants may render Telehealth services. The language in the recent announcement from CMS states, “A range of providers, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers, will be able to offer Telehealth to their patients.” This says a “range of providers, such as…” not that the types of providers are limited to the ones listed above. Click to read which providers at the distant site who are eligible to receive payment for Telehealth services.
Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet – CORRECTED
CORRECTED BY CMS: there was an error in one of the CPT codes listed on the original table in the CMS fact sheet. In the HCPCS/CPT code column the first code for e-visits should be 99421 (not 99431). As of today, March 19, 2020, the error has been corrected and now shows the correct code of 99421. If you or downloaded or printed the original version, please check to be sure that you have the most recent information. Click to read the Fact Sheet…
Medicare Telemedicine Health Care Provider Fact Sheet
In a single sweeping declaration, CMS is greatly expanding access to telehealth services as part of a government-wide effort to mitigate the growing coronavirus pandemic in the United States. For more about changes to relaxed restrictions around HIPAA (think FaceTime or Skype), originating sites, established patients and more, click to read the Fact Sheet…
How to Get Paid for non-Face-to-Face Services
Healthcare providers and the population at large are concerned about safe access to care considering the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, we have received many inquiries this week about how to bill for “telehealth” services. Read more…
Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late
Get assistance with important decisions to protect the future of your business. DoctorsManagement’s in-house team of experts have developed a COVID-19 disaster response and recover plan to help medical practices weather this pandemic storm.
Learn more about our COVID-19 Business Response and Recovery Services for Medical Practices…
