Skip to main content

Table 1 For telemedicine services with a house officer, the teaching physician must be physically present with the HO who is providing the service, or present through interactive telecommunications technology for the key portions of the service allowing the teaching physician to furnish assistance and direction. The house officer or teaching physician can add documentation: “Dr X was present for the key portions of the E/M service provided and agreed with the management.”

From: The importance of implementing inpatient virtual coverage in an endocrinology practice: lessons learned thus far from the COVID-19 pandemic

Reporting Non-Face to Face Inpatient Care During Pandemic

Document the type of connection used (video or telephone) and if telephone only, include that video was not available. If the provider is not in the facility when providing the service, add GT modifier to CPT code

Non-Face to Face Inpatient Care

CPT Codes

Comments

Consult to Inpatient Team Asynchronous

99451

Written report provided in electronic chart to the requesting physician/qualified professional

5–29 min of medical consultative time

No patient contact

Consult to Inpatient Team

Synchronous

99446–5–10 min

99447–11–20 min

99448–21–30 min

99449 - > 31 min

Do not report more than once in 7-day period. Do not report if consultant saw patient in last 14 days.

Only physicians may report.

Do not add GT Modifier to these codes

No patient contact

Consult to patient

Synchronous

Telephone only

99441–5–10 min

99442–11–20 min

99443–21–30 min

Patient contact but audio only

Must not originate from a related E/M service provided within the previous 7 days

Must not lead to an E/M service or procedure within the next 24 hours

Consult to patient (initial visit)

Synchronous

Virtual Visit (video call)

99251 – level one

99252 – level two

99253 – level three

99254 – level four

99255 – Level five

Patient contact with audio and video

These codes may be reported by MD, APP, or HO if Teaching Physician participates in key portion of service and only teaching physician time can be counted.

Subsequent Inpatient Visit

Synchronous

Virtual Visit

99231 – level 1

99232 – level 2

99233 – level 3

Patient contact with audio and video

Use same coding criteria as in-person visits. These codes may be reported by MD, APP, HO if Teaching Physician participates in key portion of service