decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2009 Issue 6 (June)
3 reasons why you should bill codes for telephone services
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Article Overview
This article explains a practice-management discussion about telephone service billing and the business reasons some offices pursue payment for these services. It is aimed at coders, billers, practice administrators, and office staff who need to understand the general scope of telephone-related billing guidance, payer differences, and documentation-related considerations without relying on in-office visit coding. The article also places telephone services in the broader context of Medicare coverage and private payer billing.
Why This Topic Matters
Telephone encounters can represent a recurring administrative and revenue-cycle issue for practices. Understanding the general billing landscape helps staff recognize which services are discussed in the article and why some practices treat them as billable work.
Article Sections
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Telephone service billing overview
Introduces the article’s focus on telephone-based patient services and how practices think about billing and payment for them. It also frames the discussion around Medicare, private payers, and practice costs.
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Key facts about telephone service codes
Summarizes general guidance associated with telephone service coding, including documentation, patient initiation, established-patient context, and the distinction from other forms of remote care.
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Why practices bill for telephone services
Explains the business reasons some offices seek payment for telephone encounters and describes practical considerations related to payer negotiation, patient communication, and office workload.
What You Will Learn
- How the article frames telephone service billing in a medical practice setting
- What general types of billing and documentation considerations are associated with telephone encounters
- Why some practices attempt to obtain payment from patients or private payers for phone-based services
- How telephone services are distinguished from other remote service models in the article
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Medical billers
- Practice administrators
- Revenue cycle staff
- Physician office managers
Codes Discussed
Code Ranges Discussed
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