CPT Adds a Modifier for Audio-Only TeleMedicine Encounters

At the September 2021 CPT Editorial Panel Meeting, a new Modifier was accepted to describe real-time telemedicine services between a patient and a physician or other qualified health care professional rendered via audio only. This new modifier is effective January 1, 2022.

Synchronous telemedicine service is defined as a real-time interaction between a physician or other qualified health care professional and a patient who is located at a distant site from the physician or other qualified health care professional. The totality of the communication of information exchanged between the physician or other qualified health care professional and the patient during the course of the synchronous telemedicine service 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.

The official release information can be found on the AMA website: https://www.ama-assn.org/practice-management/cpt/cpt-appendix-audio-only-modifier-93-reporting-medical-services