Telehealth Billing for Online Doctor Visits
GET EXPERT TIPS ON PAYMENT RULES, COMMON CODING MISTAKES, AND BUILDING AN EFFICIENT PRACTICE WITH MEDSTATES TELEHEALTH BILLING SERVICES
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- How Billing for Online Visits Works
- Understanding Payment Rules from Different Groups
- Why Choosing a Good Medical Billing Company for Telehealth is So Important
- The Codes for Online Visits
- Important Things to Remember for Online Billing
- Common Billing Mistakes to Avoid
- Making Telehealth Billing Easier for Your Office
- Conclusion: Smooth Telehealth Billing for a Strong Practice
Online doctor visits are becoming a normal part of healthcare, helping both doctors and patients in many ways. Because this way of seeing patients is becoming so common, it’s really important for your office to get paid correctly for these online visits, which we call “Telehealth billing.” Telehealth simply means seeing patients remotely, whether through video calls, messages, or other digital tools. This blog post is here to make understanding how to bill for these online visits as easy as possible. It’s also good to remember that there’s a push to make sure doctors get paid the same amount for online visits as they do for in-person visits, which is called telehealth payment parity.
How Billing for Online Visits Works
When you see a patient online, the way you bill for it isn’t exactly the same as when they come to your office. One important thing is to write good notes about the visit. These notes help you choose the right code, which is like a special number for online visits (telehealth code for billing). Also, sometimes the rules for billing can change depending on where the patient is and where you are when you have the online visit.
Getting paid for online visits follows a few steps.
- First, you need to make sure the patient understands and agrees to have an online visit.
- Then, you need to choose the correct telehealth billing codes.
- Sometimes, how you bill depends on how long the visit lasts (telehealth billing by time) rather than just the type of visit
- After the visit, you send the bill with these special codes to the insurance company.
- When your office receives payment, you need to check if the amount is right.
- If it's not, you might need to contact the insurance company again to get it corrected.
Understanding Payment Rules from Different Groups
Different groups have different rules about paying for online doctor visits. For Medicare, the government insurance, the rules might change over time. For example, the medicare telehealth billing guidelines 2025 could be different from what they were in the past (telehealth billing medicare 2022). Sometimes, Medicare might help pay for an online doctor’s note without the patient paying extra, which is called a telehealth medical certificate bulk bill. It’s important to know the specific rules Medicare has for online visits.
Different insurance companies — like Anthem (Telehealth Billing Guidelines 2023), BCBS (2024), Regence (2024), Cigna, BCBSIL (2024), Fidelis, Healthfirst, and Humana — each have their own telehealth billing policies.
It’s important to check with each insurer to understand what services they cover and what billing steps you must follow to get paid.
Although their rules may vary, many companies share some common requirements for telehealth billing.
Why Choosing THE BEST Company for Telehealth BILLING is Important
Dealing with telehealth billing can be complicated, with all the different rules from Medicare (medicare telehealth billing guidelines 2025) and other insurance companies (anthem telehealth billing guidelines 2023, bcbs telehealth billing guidelines 2024, etc.). A good medical billing company like Medstates that really knows medical billing for telehealth services can be a huge help. They stay up-to-date on all the latest rules and coding (telehealth billing codes, telehealth billing cpt, telehealth code for billing) and can make sure your claims are sent correctly. This means you’re more likely to get paid the right amount and avoid delays or denials. Trying to keep up with all these rules yourself can take a lot of time and effort. Hiring experts in telehealth billing lets you focus on taking care of your patients, knowing that your billing is in good hands. They can also help you understand things like telehealth billing by time and make sure you’re following all the guidelines, including those that might affect things like a telehealth bulk bill medical certificate.
TELEHEALTH BILLING Codes for Online Visits
Just like for in-person visits, there are special codes used when billing for telehealth. These telehealth billing cpt codes tell the insurance company exactly what kind of online service you provided. There’s also a specific telehealth code for billing that helps show that the visit happened online.
Sometimes, you need to add a small extra code, called a modifier, to the main billing code. These modifiers, like GT or 95, give more information about how the online visit was done. Knowing when to use each of these modifiers is important for getting paid correctly according to the insurance rules. Also, how you bill might be a little different depending on whether you had a live video call, exchanged messages, or used devices to check on a patient remotely.
Important Things to Remember for VIRTUAL VISITS Billing
To make sure you get paid for your online visits, there are a few key things to keep in mind.
- First, always get the patient’s okay to have a telehealth visit and make sure to note this in their records. When you write your notes about the visit, include enough detail, and if you’re billing based on time (telehealth billing by time), make sure to record how long the visit lasted.
- It’s also crucial to check with the patient’s insurance to see if they cover telehealth visits before the appointment.
- Remember that the rules for online health visits can also vary from state to state.
- Finally, the world of telehealth billing is always changing, so it’s important to stay up-to-date with the newest guidelines. For example, keep an eye out for updates like telehealth billing 2024.
Common Mistakes to Avoid IN TELEHEALTH BILLING
There are some common mistakes that can cause problems with telehealth billing
Using the wrong telehealth billing codes or modifiers is one.
Not having enough information in your notes about the online visit is another.
You also shouldn’t bill for services that a particular insurance company doesn’t cover for telehealth.
Forgetting to get the patient’s consent for the online visit can also cause issues.
Lastly, not staying current with the latest telehealth billing guidelines, such as medicare telehealth billing guidelines 2025, anthem telehealth billing guidelines 2023, and bcbs telehealth billing guidelines 2024, can lead to errors.
Making Telehealth Billing Easier for Your Office
There are ways to make billing for online visits smoother.
- Having a good system to check if a patient’s insurance covers telehealth is a great first step.
- Make sure your staff is well-trained on how to use the correct telehealth billing codes, modifiers, and how to document telehealth visits properly.
- Using billing software that is regularly updated with the newest telehealth rules and insurance guidelines can also help a lot.
- Regularly reviewing your telehealth bills can help you catch and fix any mistakes.
- Lastly, staying informed about telehealth payment parity efforts can help you understand how payments for online visits might change.
SIMPLIFIED Telehealth Billing for MEDICAL Practice
Getting paid correctly for your online doctor visits (Telehealth billing) is essential for the health of your practice. By understanding the basics, knowing the rules from different insurance companies, and avoiding common mistakes, you can make the process much easier. Our team is here to help you navigate the world of telehealth billing so you can focus on what you do best – taking care of your patients. If you have any questions or need assistance with your telehealth billing, please don’t hesitate to reach out https://www.medstates.com/contact/.
