CMS Expands COVID-19 Telehealth Provisions to Skilled Nursing Facility Residents

The current COVID-19 public health emergency does not waive any requirements related to Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Consolidated Billing (CB); however, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services added CPT codes 99441, 99442, and 99443 to the list of telehealth codes coverable under the waiver during the COVID-19 public health emergency. These codes designate three different time increments of telephone evaluation and management service provided by a physician. You can bill for these physician services separately under Part B when furnished to a SNF’s Part A resident.

Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will reprocess claims for CPT codes 99441, 99442 and 99443 with dates of service on or after March 1, 2020, that were denied due to SNF CB edits. You do not have to do anything. If you already received payment from the SNF for these physician services, return that payment to the SNF once the MAC reprocesses your claim.