Q&A: Reporting an E/M visit for a patient exposed to COVID-19

Why This Topic Matters

COVID-19 created frequent questions about how to report office, telehealth, telephone, testing-site, and laboratory services. Understanding the scope of the guidance helps coding and billing teams identify when the article is relevant to their workflow and where to look for official policy updates.

Article Sections

1. Q&A on reporting an E/M visit for COVID-19 exposure

   The article opens with a coding question about a new patient encounter tied to COVID-19 exposure and referral to a diagnostic testing site. It frames the general reporting issues addressed in the remainder of the article.

2. In-person and testing-site reporting considerations

   This section addresses the general categories of reporting involved in an in-person visit, specimen handling, laboratory testing, and place-of-service selection. It also references the code sets involved in those workflows.

3. Virtual visit reporting and telemedicine guidance

   This section covers the broader topics of virtual E/M reporting, telemedicine, and telephone-based encounters. It also discusses the role of modifiers and place-of-service reporting in COVID-19 telehealth situations.

4. CMS and AMA COVID-19 billing guidance

   This section summarizes the availability of broader CMS and AMA resources related to COVID-19 coding, reporting, and payment policies. It highlights that the article is discussing general guidance rather than a single payer policy.

5. Editorial note and usage reminder

   The closing material identifies the contributors and includes a reminder to verify documentation for individual scenarios. It also notes the informational nature of the answer.