Telehealth: Implement time, location lessons for FTF and telehealth visits: OIG audit

Why This Topic Matters

Telehealth documentation standards have changed quickly, and audit findings can affect both current compliance and future reimbursement policy. Understanding the broad areas reviewed by the OIG helps practices strengthen internal audits and reduce risk of documentation-related denials or overpayments.

Article Sections

1. Introductory audit overview

   Introduces the OIG review of telehealth E/M claims during the early COVID-19 public health emergency and frames the documentation issues discussed in the article.

2. Tune up time-based services

   Discusses time-based documentation concerns in office/outpatient E/M encounters and the role of time versus medical decision making during the audit period.

3. Check telehealth charts for 3 errors

   Summarizes broad documentation areas practices should review in telehealth records, including encounter type, platform documentation, and location information.

4. Resources

   Lists supporting external references and source materials cited by the article.