Previous guidance instructed providers to submit claims for telehealth services using the appropriate procedure code along with the telehealth modifier GT (via interactive audio and video telecommunications systems). In the Calendar Year (CY) 2017 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, payment policies regarding Medicare’s use of a new Place of Service (POS) Code describing services furnished via telehealth (POS 02) were finalized and implemented through CR9726. The new POS code became effective on January 1, 2017.
In the CY 2018 PFS final rule, the requirement to use the GT modifier was eliminated for all professional claims. CR10152, which implemented that policy, included a business requirement instructing MACs to be aware that the GT modifier is only allowed for distant site services billed when the type of bill is a Method II CAH with a revenue code 96X, 97X, or 98X or with a service line that contains HCPCS code Q3014 or the type of bill is a Method II CAH with revenue code 942 and contains G0420 or G0421. As of January 1, 2018, the GT modifier is only allowed on institutional claims billed under CAH Method II. If the GT modifier is billed under any circumstances, except as just outlined for Method II CAHs, the claim line will be rejected with the following remittance codes:
• Group Code CO – Contractual obligation
• Claim Adjustment Reason Code 4 – The procedure code is inconsistent with the modifier used or a required modifier is missing. Usage: Refer to the 835 Healthcare Policy Identification Segment (loop 2110 Service Payment Information REF), if present. Start: 01/01/1995 | Last Modified: 07/01/2017
• Remittance Advice Remarks Code N519 – Invalid combination of HCPCS modifiers.
You can Contact ZEE Medical Billing for a free analysis to solve all your Telehealth medical billing problems and ramp up your revenue or visit the Medicare Learning Network page for additional information.
