Telehealth services should be coded and billed in accordance with applicable state laws and regulations, UnitedHealthcare requirements, plan type and by using the appropriate coding guidelines.
Documenting and coding telehealth visits
To be eligible for payment, a telehealth visit must be conducted by an eligible care provider using secure, real-time, interactive audio and visual technology.
Please continue to review UnitedHealthcare’s telehealth reimbursement policies for each line of business to determine if other forms of technology assisted interactions are reimbursable, such as e-visits and virtual check-ins.
Patient financial responsibility and benefit eligibility
While medical malpractice insurance typically covers the delivery of care through telehealth technology, we encourage care providers to verify specific coverage with their insurers.
Providers should also verify that their medical malpractice insurance extends to beyond state lines to cover telehealth services provided to patients who reside or are traveling across state lines.
Just as for in-person visits, all professional staff delivering patient care or consultations through telehealth technologies should be certified or licensed in their applicable specialty or have a level of certification, licensure, education and/or experience in accordance with state and federal laws. Providers should consult their state medical board or the Federation of State Medical Boards to determine the licensure requirements for their state.
Federal and state laws related to telehealth are constantly evolving. It’s important to understand payer reimbursement policies and state parity laws. Each state has a different set of rules and requirements related to telehealth. To stay up to date on the most recent information for your state consult your state Department of Health website or these websites: