General Surgery Coding Alert - 2020 Issue 9
Don't Miss These Points in Your Telehealth Documentation
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.
Article Overview
This article reviews documentation considerations for telehealth and phone encounters, focusing on the information commonly expected in records to support compliance and audit readiness. It is aimed at coders, auditors, compliance staff, and providers who document remote encounters, and it highlights broad differences between audio-only and audio/video services as well as the need to verify payer-specific telehealth requirements.
Why This Topic Matters
Telehealth documentation is frequently reviewed in audits, and incomplete records can create compliance risk or make a reported service harder to support. Understanding the documentation categories discussed in this article helps practices improve record quality and check whether payer-specific guidance applies.
Article Sections
-
Audio-Only Visits
This section addresses documentation considerations for telephone-based encounters and the general information typically captured in the record. It also notes the emphasis on timing and visit characterization for these services.
-
Audio and Video Visits
This section covers documentation considerations for real-time telehealth encounters involving both audio and video. It discusses the kinds of record elements commonly expected for these visits and the need for clear service identification.
-
Note
This brief note highlights that reporting requirements may differ across commercial payers. It points readers to payer-specific telehealth guidance.
What You Will Learn
- What documentation elements are commonly expected for telehealth and telephone encounters
- How documentation needs can differ between audio-only and audio/video visits
- Why payer-specific telehealth guidance should be checked before reporting
- What broad record components are often reviewed during audits
Who Should Read This
- Medical coders
- Compliance professionals
- Medical auditors
- Physicians and other providers
- Revenue cycle staff
Codes Discussed
Modifiers Discussed
Subscribe or sign in to view the full article.


Quick, Current, Complete - www.findacode.com