COVID-19 coding: Encounters at the ‘drive-in’ are reported as face-to-face visits

Why This Topic Matters

Practices needed clear guidance on how to report unusual patient encounters created to reduce exposure risk while still meeting access and prescribing needs. Correct interpretation affects visit classification, documentation, and compliance with payer and public health emergency rules.

Article Sections

1. Question

   Introduces the scenario involving drive-in patient encounters during the COVID-19 period and asks how these visits should be reported.

2. Answer

   Summarizes the reporting approach discussed in the article and identifies the general type of visit classification and place-of-service treatment.

3. CMS telehealth guidance during the public health emergency

   Describes the CMS FAQ-based guidance cited in the article about when services are considered telehealth versus in-person encounters during the public health emergency.

4. Five more tips for conducting socially distant visits

   Covers broader operational and compliance considerations for socially distant patient visits, including documentation, time reporting, security, and public health emergency monitoring.