CMS Changes Telehealth Modifier

By all accounts, telemedicine is here to stay (for now) and in addition to the unique codes for audio/video and audio-only visits, CMS has released a new modifier.  Effective January 1, 2022, modifier -93, Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only telecommunications system, must be used. 

A synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who are located at distant sites. The totality of the communication of information exchanged between the parties must be of an amount and nature that is sufficient to meet the key components and/or requirements of the same service when rendered via a face-to-face interaction.

As always, remember to check your payors’ website in case they have differing guidelines.