Telehealth

“We have had an influx of phone calls that are burdening our clinical hours. We have been flooded with questions that pertain to patient care, clarification of orders and home care instructions. Is there a way to bill for these calls? Each call can take 20-45 minutes for our medical assistants to complete. And we are trying to manage a full clinic at the same time.”

Telehealth waivers during the COVID-19 public health emergency are expiring.

HHS Issues Guidance on How the HIPAA Rules Permit Covered Health Care Providers and Health Plans to Use Remote Communication Technologies for Audio-Only Telehealth

“In the summer of 2021, when the delta variant was near its peak, I attempted a house call visit to review laboratory results and discuss treatment options. The family of the elderly patient did not want anyone in the house and recommended leaving the results and instructions at the front door. Lab results, my interpretation of the results, prescription and instructions were left at the front door as instructed. This, of course, required driving to the patient’s residence to accomplish this. How could this scenario be billed to Medicare?”

The public health emergency is extended until April 16, 2022.

As COVID numbers start an uptick, private insurers are making additional changes to their coverage policies.