As someone who has experience working in the telehealth industry, in telehealth medical billing, a physician may accidentally fail to account for the time spent with patients outside of scheduled sessions. There are many things to consider when figuring out how to bill telehealth visits. And you have to do it properly for them to continue paying their bills on time and in full.
Below, we will look at several different methods and strategies for you when trying to bill your clients appropriately. And what can you do if there are issues with your clients paying telehealth medical billing through mobile, on time or in full.
What does telehealth mean?
Telehealth uses technology to provide healthcare services remotely, with a patient and a provider working together. The term “tele” means “distant” in Greek, while technology is an important feature in most definitions of telemedicine. Medicine is delivered by telecommunications technologies such as the internet, video conferencing, email, cell phones, and other wireless devices.
All it takes is a computer or mobile device and some kind of connection to the internet. In many ways, telehealth allows people to receive treatment when they otherwise would not have been able to because they are too far away from medical professionals. Or they may have limited mobility, which prevents them from getting around easily.
The three billing options available for your patients
- In-Network: The traditional way of billing the insurance company. You need a membership ID and ID card from the insurer or a referral from your doctor.
- Out-of-Network: This is when you bill for services not covered by the patient’s insurance. For example, physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, etc.
- Non-network: Non-network providers can only be used in emergencies.
Calculate Telehealth Medical Billing as per Medicare CPT code
- Code 99453:
The federal program known as Medicare will make a one-time $18.48 payment upon enrollment for initial patient registration into the program, including the set-up and activation of the monitoring device, initial education of the patient on using the device, and initiating remote monitoring of the patient.
- Code 99457:
Medicare pays a monthly fee of $50.18 for a 20-minute call between the patient and caregiver or practitioner to communicate data collected by the device.
- Code 99458:
Upon exceeding 20 minutes but not exceeding 40 minutes, Medicare gives you an increase of $40.84. If your spending exceeds 40 minutes a month, Medicare pays you an additional $40.84, and reimbursement does not continue after 40 minutes.
- Code 99091:
Medicare pays $56.41 monthly to collect and interpret the remote patient monitoring device’s transmitted and stored physiological information. To receive reimbursement, you should spend about 30 minutes interpreting and analyzing.
Documentation Required for Telehealth Medical Billing
The billing rules for telehealth services seem complicated. This can sometimes be difficult for a telemedicine provider because different payers have different billing procedures. However, some things remain constant. For example, you will always need a written notice of service before providing any kind of service to your patient or client, and they must sign off on it before you can send an invoice to their insurance company.
To qualify for Medicare reimbursement under telehealth, patients must receive at least twenty minutes of service per month. You need a qualified physician or healthcare professional, such as a nurse practitioner, certified nurse specialist, or physician assistant, to order your RPM services.
Tips on Managing your Telehealth Medical Billing
It can be difficult to manage the bill when you are working remotely. Here are a few tips on how you can make it easier:
- Write up a contract that has the payment information and any other pertinent details, such as the cancellation policy
- Find an accountant who will help with your taxes
- Find out if your insurance provider offers telemedicine coverage. If they do, contact them before you start working to receive more information about the process of getting reimbursed.
Conclusion
When you have a telelearning customer, it can be hard to figure out how much time they spend on the call. This is because they are paid by the minute, and some people talk more than others. You must bill them for their time as accurately as possible so that they don’t feel like they’re being overcharged. You can visit our website for more information about our Medical Billing Company.
