Telehealth

What is Telehealth?

Telehealth is the broader term for all health services delivered remotely using digital technology, while telemedicine refers specifically to direct clinical encounters. Telehealth includes synchronous video visits, asynchronous store-and-forward consultations, remote patient monitoring (RPM), and telephone-only check-ins. CMS dramatically expanded telehealth coverage during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency, including audio-only coverage, geographic restriction waivers, and expanded eligible service lists. Key billing codes include CPT 99202–99215 for E/M services via telehealth, 99421–99423 for online digital E/M, and G2012 for telephone check-ins. Place of service code 02 designates telehealth (originating site other than home) and code 10 designates telehealth delivered to a patient in their home. Modifiers GT (via interactive audio and video) and 95 (synchronous telemedicine) are appended to applicable codes.

Why It Matters for Healthcare Analytics

Telehealth reimbursement varies substantially by payer: some commercial plans offer payment parity with in-person visits while others pay 75–85% of in-person rates. Audio-only visits are reimbursed at lower rates than video by most payers, and eligibility differs by plan. Tracking telehealth adoption rates by provider and service line, alongside payer-specific reimbursement comparisons, is essential for understanding revenue impact. Failure to append the correct modifier or place of service code is one of the top denial causes for telehealth claims.

How Vizier Tracks Telehealth

Upload your claims data and ask "What is our telehealth reimbursement rate by payer compared to in-person visits this quarter?" — Vizier segments visits by place of service code and modifier, calculates average allowed amounts, and identifies payers where audio-only rates are dragging revenue, without requiring custom DAX formulas or analyst involvement.