CTP - Certified Telehealth Practitioner Documentation and Billing Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A provider in their office conducts a synchronous video telehealth visit with an established patient who is located in their home. To ensure proper billing to Medicare, which Place of Service (POS) code should be used on the claim form?
- POS 11 (Office)
- POS 12 (Home)
- POS 02 (Telehealth Provided Other than in Patient’s Home)
- POS 10 (Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home) (Correct answer)
Correct answer: POS 10 (Telehealth Provided in Patient’s Home)
According to CMS guidelines, the Place of Service (POS) code for a telehealth visit should reflect the location of the patient at the time of the service. POS 10 is specifically designated for telehealth services provided when the patient is in their home. POS 02 is used when the patient is at an originating site that is not their home, and POS 11 (Office) and POS 12 (Home) are for in-person encounters.
Question 2: Which of the following is a critical documentation element uniquely required for a telehealth encounter that is not typically necessary for an in-person visit?
- Patient's chief complaint and history of present illness.
- Documentation of the patient's and provider's physical locations. (Correct answer)
- A detailed assessment and plan.
- The total time spent on the encounter.
Correct answer: Documentation of the patient's and provider's physical locations.
While all other options are standard components of medical documentation, the physical locations of both the patient and the provider must be documented for a telehealth visit. This is essential for verifying licensure compliance, adhering to payer-specific billing regulations, and determining legal jurisdiction.
Question 3: A practitioner is billing for a 45-minute psychotherapy session delivered via a real-time, interactive audio and video platform. Which CPT modifier should be appended to the service code to indicate the method of delivery?
- Modifier GT
- Modifier 95 (Correct answer)
- Modifier 25
- Modifier 93
Correct answer: Modifier 95
Modifier 95 is the standard CPT modifier used to indicate that a service was a 'Synchronous Telemedicine Service Rendered Via a Real-Time Interactive Audio and Video Telecommunications System.' While the GT modifier was used historically for this purpose, Modifier 95 is the current standard for most payers, including Medicare, for these types of services. Modifier 93 is for audio-only services, and Modifier 25 is for a significant, separately identifiable E/M service.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of the HCPCS code Q3014 in telehealth billing?
- To bill for the professional services of the distant site specialist.
- To bill for asynchronous (store-and-forward) technology costs.
- To bill an originating site facility fee for hosting a patient. (Correct answer)
- To bill for remote patient monitoring equipment.
Correct answer: To bill an originating site facility fee for hosting a patient.
HCPCS code Q3014 is used by an eligible originating site (the location where the patient is located) to bill a facility fee. This fee reimburses the originating site for the costs of hosting the patient and facilitating the telehealth connection with the distant site provider. It cannot be billed if the patient is at home.
Question 5: When documenting a patient's informed consent for a telehealth visit, which of the following elements is MOST critical to include?
- A statement that the provider has verified the patient's insurance coverage.
- A confirmation that the patient understands the potential risks, benefits, and limitations of receiving care via telehealth. (Correct answer)
- A list of all the provider's active state licenses.
- The brand name of the video conferencing software being used.
Correct answer: A confirmation that the patient understands the potential risks, benefits, and limitations of receiving care via telehealth.
A core component of informed consent for telehealth is ensuring the patient understands that this modality is different from in-person care. This includes discussing and documenting their understanding of potential limitations (e.g., a physical exam cannot be fully performed), privacy and security risks, and the possibility of technology failures.
Question 6: A provider is billing an E/M service for a telehealth visit based on time. The note states, 'Total time spent was 40 minutes.' To ensure compliance and support the time-based code, what additional documentation is essential?
- The internet speed of the provider's connection.
- The patient's verbal confirmation of the time spent.
- A detailed summary of the activities performed during that time. (Correct answer)
- The start and end times logged by the platform.
Correct answer: A detailed summary of the activities performed during that time.
When billing based on time, documentation must describe how that time was spent. This includes activities like preparing for the visit, reviewing records, the live interaction with the patient, and post-encounter documentation on the same day. Simply stating the total time is insufficient; the activities performed must be summarized to justify the time spent and support medical necessity.
CTP - Certified Telehealth Practitioner Documentation and Billing Questions and Answers
A provider in their office conducts a synchronous video telehealth visit with an established patient who is located in their home.
To ensure proper billing to Medicare, which Place of Service (POS) code should be used on the claim form?