More changes in telehealth / telemedicine

     CMS released another update 30 April 2020, impacting the delivery, coding, billing, and reimbursement of non-face-to-face care during the current PHE.  The document is 221 pages and, as always, it is recommended to refer to the source document.  Keep in mind that this information has not been finalized in the CFR and might have some slight edits by the time you see it in final form.
Voice-only visits (i.e. phone calls, no video) will receive higher reimbursements, backdated to March.  Providers should use telephone codes 99441 – 99443 for voice only E/M services for Medicare; these correspond to 99212 – 99214.  The full discussion begins on page 122.  This change does not mean you can bill a 99213 for a voice-only telehealth visit; you would use 99442 for the comparable time or MDM. 
       This modification was made for instances when the two-way, audio and video standard required for a Medicare telehealth service might not be available, CMS felt there could be “many circumstances where prolonged, audio-only communication between the practitioner and the patient could be clinically appropriate yet not fully replace a face-to-face visit.”
     CMS also posted information concerning selecting appropriate level for Medicare office / outpatient E/M visits furnished via telehealth; the discussion on time for E/M begins on page 135.  Level selection for these services when furnished via telehealth can be based on MDM or time. 
The IFC also addresses the impact of COVID-19 on Part C and Part D quality ratings, beginning on page 137.
Source:  https://www.cms.gov/files/document/covid-final-ifc.pdf