Can you bill a 99214 for a telephone visit?
Asked by: Magali Bartoletti | Last update: July 23, 2025Score: 4.3/5 (33 votes)
Can 99214 be used for a telehealth visit?
Remember, you must write down the time: For example, either 9:00 to 9:25, or 25 minutes (99214). On the other hand, do not forget that until Jan. 1, 2021, if you fulfill two-thirds of the key factors — history, physical examination and medical decision-making — you can still use 99214 with proper documentation.
Can you bill for a telephone visit?
You can bill audio-video or audio-only telehealth visits as if they were provided in-person. Physician office telehealth visit payment rates will remain the same as in-person. You can provide telehealth services if you are eligible to bill Medicare for services.
What are the rules for billing 99214?
- Medical Necessity. ...
- Present Illness Documentation. ...
- Chief Complaint. ...
- Review Symptoms. ...
- Detailed Physical Exam. ...
- Past, Family and Social History. ...
- In-depth History. ...
- Medical Decision Making.
What is the E&M code for a telephone visit?
How is an office visit conducted via audio-video billed? Office visit evaluation and management services (CPT codes 99202-99205, 99211-99215) furnished using audio-video telecommunications technology are reported using the same CPT codes as you would have had the visit been conducted in-person.
Telehealth Billing and Coding Beyond the Basics
What is required for a 99214 E&M?
Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient, which requires a medically appropriate history and/or examination and moderate level of medical decision making. When using time for code selection, 30-39 minutes of total time is spent on the date of the encounter.
When to bill 99213 vs 99214?
The primary difference between CPT code 99213 and 99214 lies in the complexity and time involved. While 99213 is for a low level of medical decision-making, 99214 is used for moderate complexity, requiring a higher level of medical decision-making and more extensive history and examination.
Can you bill 99214 twice in one day?
Documentation must be submitted with the claim to medically justify two services on the same day. The frequency restriction for CPT codes 99211 thru 99214 may be exceeded with medical justification.
What is the modifier for a telephone visit?
Use modifier -93 for the reporting of medical services that are provided via real-time interaction between the physician or other qualified health care professional (QHP) and a patient through audio-only technology.
Can a doctor bill you for a phone call?
Phone calls must be long enough: The phone call also has to be long enough for doctors to bill for it. It might have to be as long as five minutes before they will be compensated.
Does Medicare cover telephone only visits?
Additionally, Medicare will pay for audio-only (i.e. telephone services) for specific services (telephone evaluation and management, behavioral health counseling, or educational services). A list of these audio-only services is included in the Appendix at the end of this document.
Can you bill and office visit for a telehealth?
E-Consults: A health care provider at the distant site may bill for an e-consult with the CPT Codes listed in the Medi-Cal Telehealth Provider Manual when the benefits or services delivered meet the procedural definition and components of the CPT code for e-consults as defined by the AMA as well as any requirements ...
Can you bill 99214 for observation?
The patient remains in observation status on Friday. At that time, you document a detailed history, detailed exam and moderate-complexity medical decision making. The patient is discharged on Saturday. The correct codes for these services are 99219 (Thursday), 99214 (Friday) and 99217 (Saturday).
Do phone calls count as telehealth?
Reminder: phone calls are not telehealth, so do not add the modifier -95. QUESTION: A patient was seen via audio-video telecommunication, and the video portion stopped connection after five minutes due to weather, and we could not get it back up. We continued with the audio portion of the telehealth visit.
Does 99214 require a physical exam?
To bill CPT 99214, documentation must include a detailed history, a comprehensive physical examination, moderate complexity medical decision-making, and a record of 30-39 minutes spent on the visit.
Can you bill 99214 and 99354 together?
Yes. To code 99354 with 99214, the total face-to-face time spent with the patient would need to be at least 30 minutes beyond the 25 minutes typically spent in a 99214 visit.
Can you bill 99214 with 99401?
Yes, you can bill CPT 99214 and 99401 together, provided that the services rendered meet the criteria for each code. CPT 99401 should be utilized for preventive counseling specifically related to obesity management, while CPT 99214 covers the office visit with moderate medical decision-making.
What is the CPT code 99214 billing guideline?
CPT code 99214 is indicated for established patient visits that involve a detailed history, comprehensive examination, and moderate-level medical decision-making. You can code 99214 based on time if you spend half of the patient's visit counseling or coordinating care, and have a total visit time of 30-39 minutes.
What is a complex office visit?
Complex visits are defined as those with over two diagnoses (the mean of diagnoses made per visit) and/or those with over three prescription medications (the mean of medications prescribed per visit).
Can 99213 be billed for telehealth?
These services should be billed using standard E/M codes. For example, a level 3 office visit provided to an established patient via telehealth should be billed using code 99213.
What is considered an office visit?
An office visit is any direct personal exchange between an ambulatory patient and a physician or members of their staff for the purpose of seeking care and rendering health services.
Which guidelines are used for E&M codes?
- Preparing to see the patient (e.g., review of tests)
- Obtaining and/or reviewing separately obtained history.
- Performing a medically appropriate examination and/or evaluation.
- Counseling and educating the patient/family/caregiver.
- Ordering medications, tests, or procedures.
What is the CPT code for additional 30 minutes?
CPT code 90840 serves as an add-on code for each additional 30 minutes of psychotherapy beyond the initial session. This code recognizes the flexibility required in mental health care to address the varying needs and complexities of individual cases.