Don't Miss These Points in Your Telehealth Documentation

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Note:  The following article synopsis was NOT provided by AAPC. It was created by Find-A-Code/innoviHealth.

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

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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


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