If you want to bill Medicare for your remote patient monitoring, you'll have to know which codes to use. These codes can be found on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website. While many providers may bill for time and self-reported data, not all do. In addition to Medicare, many other insurers have different policies for remote patient monitoring. Read on to learn more. Below are some examples of which providers can bill for remote patient monitoring.
Qualified Healthcare Professionals
The RPM service must be ordered by a physician or other "qualified healthcare professional," such as a nurse practitioner, certified nurse specialist, or physician assistant. CMS also updated the CPT codes for remote patient monitoring. Now, clinical staff under the general supervision of the billing provider can bill for remote patient monitoring. To get the most benefit from the remote patient monitoring program, providers should utilize the new codes for self-reported data. The CMS's updated guidelines are also available online. Further, the reimbursement rules allow for a more diverse group of providers to take advantage of remote patient monitoring.
While CPT code 99091 can only be furnished by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional, CPT codes 99457 and 99458 can be furnished by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional, or by clinical staff under the general supervision of the physician.
A physician or other qualified healthcare professional is defined as “an individual who is qualified by education, training, licensure/regulation (when applicable) and facility privileging (when applicable) who performs a professional service within his/her scope of practice and independently reports that professional service.”
A clinical staff member is defined as “a person who works under the supervision of a physician or other qualified healthcare professional and who is allowed by law, regulation, and facility policy to perform or assist in the performance of a specified professional service but does not individually report that professional service.”
In the 2021 Final Rule, CMS finalized its proposal to allow auxiliary personnel, in addition to clinical staff, to furnish services described by CPT codes 99453 and 99454 under the general supervision of the billing physician or practitioner. CMS has defined and added these rules because “the CPT code descriptors do not specify that clinical staff must perform RPM services.”
CPT code 99457
The use of CPT code 99457 for remote patient monitors is gaining momentum due to a newer rule that allows incident-to-billing. The new code allows for reimbursement for time spent by qualified healthcare professionals and clinical staff performing RPM services. However, there are some important considerations when billing for these services.
Physicians can bill for the use of remote blood pressure patient monitoring services when they provide this service to their patients. This includes the use and supply of medical devices (CPT code 99453). The services must be provided under the supervision of a primary care physician and must be in the context of a personalized treatment plan. CPT code 99457 requires the physician to spend at least 20 minutes per patient. If the service involves monitoring an individual patient, billing for an additional 20 minutes can be done.
The cost of RPM services may vary depending on the type of service provided. Some RPM devices include cellular blood pressure cuffs and cellular weight scales. Others include a wireless pulse oximeter. These monitoring systems measure blood oxygen level, pulse rate, and perfusion index.
Because RPM systems were originally designed for chronic care patient monitoring, they now have specific CPT codes. One of these is CPT code 99457, which is designated for remote physiologic monitoring. This code requires that the provider provide interactive communication with the patient to ensure that the patient is receiving the services they need.
The use of remote patient monitoring can be extremely useful for patients with chronic conditions. The provider or clinical staff must spend at least 20 minutes per month providing remote monitoring services to a patient. The CPT code also allows for the cost of remote patient monitoring services. However, these services are only useful for those who want to monitor a patient. As a provider, it's important to understand that the CPT code 99457 will allow you to bill for additional 20 minutes per month.
As the use of remote patient monitoring grows, it will become a lucrative Medicare care management program. The reimbursement rules allow physicians and auxiliary personnel to bill remote patient monitoring services that are considered "complex" by the CMS. A physician supervising the auxiliary personnel cannot be the same healthcare professional treating the patient. In these cases, the supervising physician may bill for the incidental RPM service. This new reimbursement policy greatly increases the potential of remote patient monitoring services and expands the number of patients who can benefit from the quality-improving benefits of this technology.
Reimbursement for time
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have recently released final rule changes for reimbursement for remote patient monitoring. These changes will help providers get more money for these services while improving patient outcomes. The new fee schedule will also add new incentives for providers to use remote patient monitoring. Regardless of what your practice uses for patient monitoring, the new rule can help you get more reimbursement. The following article will go over some of the details you need to know to maximize your reimbursement for remote patient monitoring services.
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) began to be recognized by CMS in 2019. In August, the agency released the first guidelines for RPM. These guidelines defined remote physiological monitoring as the process by which clinicians monitor patients from home. CMS has now added remote therapeutic monitoring, which involves tracking non-physiological data from patients. This change makes RPM more widely accepted in health care. But what does this mean for providers? How do they benefit from these new rules?
In general, Medicare reimburses providers for time spent remotely monitoring patients. A physician can claim reimbursement for 20 minutes per patient per month if he or she receives Medicare benefits for these services. The code also covers time spent teaching a patient how to use their RPM device. In addition, remote patient monitoring providers can bill for additional 20-minute blocks of RPM services to receive reimbursement. This allows them to get more money for their services. While RPM may not be a replacement for emergency services, it is an important step in enhancing patient care and improving clinical outcomes.
Remote patient monitoring allows caregivers to be more productive and save time. It also provides improved patient care by expanding access to care. The technology also provides expanded levels of education, support, and feedback. For example, RPM Academy is a great resource for caregivers. A care provider can watch bite-sized videos to learn about the latest updates. By leveraging the new codes, doctors can get reimbursed for RPM services more efficiently.
Comments