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Can I Provide Physical & Occupational Therapy Via Telehealth?

 
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By:Jacqueline Thelian, CPC, CPC-I, CHCA, CPMA

As per CMS (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) the answer is yes!

CMS has approved on a temporary basis during the COVID-19 Pandemic the following CPT Codes:

  • 97110 Therapeutic exercises

  • 97112 Neuromusulcar reeducation

  • 97116 Gait training therapy

  • 97161 PT Eval low complexity 20 min

  • 97162 PT Eval mod complexity 30 min

  • 97163 PT Eval high complexity 45 min

  • 97164 PT re-eval established plan care

  • 97165 OT eval low complexity 30 min

  • 97166 OT eval mod complexity 45 min

  • 97167 OT eval high complexity 60 min

  • 97168 OT re-eval established plan care

  • 97535 Self-care management training 

  • 97750 Physical Performance Test

  • 97755 Assistive Technology Assess

  • 97760 Orthotic management & training initial encounter

  • 97761 Prosthetic training 1st enc

It is important to note the following when reporting these services via telehealth:

The telehealth waiver for Medicare, authorized under HR 6074 (attached), removes the requirement that telehealth services be rendered from an “eligible originating site” and relaxes certain technology requirements, permitting services via Skype and FaceTime with a cell phone.  

This allows telehealth services to be provided in all settings, including at a patient’s home, for the duration of the COVID-19 emergency.  Importantly, there is no requirement that the services provided under the waiver be related to treatment of COVID-19.  The waiver is designed to assist providers with social distancing protocols and to allow patients to continue to seek treatment of chronic and acute conditions during the pandemic.  

To the extent the waiver (section 1135(g)(3)) requires that the patient have a prior established relationship with a particular practitioner, HHS will not conduct audits to ensure that such a prior relationship existed for claims submitted during the COVID-19 emergency. 

In addition, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) will exercise enforcement discretion and waive penalties for HIPAA violations against health care providers that serve patients in good faith through everyday communications technologies, such as FaceTime or Skype.

Remember to report Place of service Code 02 Telehealth on telehealth services.

Medicare does not require the use of modifier 95 Synchronous Telemedicine Service Rendered Via a Real Time Interactive Audio and Video Telecommunication


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