Providby:  Jennifer Kirschenbaum, Esq.
Comments on - Can I bill for a telehealth visit, and who?
 
Last Thursday we answered a question about billing for Telehealth.  Here are some colleague comments received -
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Jennifer 
 
This is a terrific answer to my question. I would point out, however, that the Medicare piece while explained correctly could use a little further expanding upon. 
 
In order to bill Medicare the person at the other end has to be at an eligible originating site. That basically means they cannot be at home. They have to be in another healthcare facility. 
 
The laws may be changing soon, but for right now if you see a MC patient using a Telehealth platform  at home it's not billable. There is an exception if you are in a rural area, but living anywhere in the tristate area probably does not qualify. 
 
Dr R
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Jenn
You might point out that most coverage that exists is for live interactive Telemedine; store and forward is not covered by CMS most private payers .
Dan
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Hey Jen,
 
We can  bill, but it has to meet special requirements of originating site(patient location cannot be patient home, it has to be from the list of selected approved facilities,for example,  federally qualified hospitals)
It is basically for patients who are inpatient in facility and there is no specialist on staff who can evaluate this patient in person.
Sincerely 
Olga Khabinskay 
WCH Service Bureau, Inc
3047 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229
888-924-3973 (x 1201)
Email:  olgak@wchsb.com
Office Fax:     347-371-9968
Website: www.wchsb.com

February 7, 2017

Last Thursday we answered a question about billing for Telehealth.  Here are some colleague comments received -

*******************************
Jennifer 
 
This is a terrific answer to my question. I would point out, however, that the Medicare piece while explained correctly could use a little further expanding upon. 
 
In order to bill Medicare the person at the other end has to be at an eligible originating site. That basically means they cannot be at home. They have to be in another healthcare facility. 
 
The laws may be changing soon, but for right now if you see a MC patient using a Telehealth platform  at home it's not billable. There is an exception if you are in a rural area, but living anywhere in the tristate area probably does not qualify. 
 
Dr R

*******************************

Jenn
You might point out that most coverage that exists is for live interactive Telemedine; store and forward is not covered by CMS most private payers .
Dan

*******************************

Hey Jen,
 
We can  bill, but it has to meet special requirements of originating site(patient location cannot be patient home, it has to be from the list of selected approved facilities,for example,  federally qualified hospitals)

It is basically for patients who are inpatient in facility and there is no specialist on staff who can evaluate this patient in person.

Sincerely 
Olga Khabinskay 
WCH Service Bureau, Inc
3047 Avenue U
Brooklyn, NY 11229
888-924-3973 (x 1201)
Email:  olgak@wchsb.com
Office Fax:     347-371-9968
Website: www.wchsb.com