**For updated guidance regarding change in coverage during the Emergency Response to COVID-19, please visit the DVHA COVID-19 webpage.**
Methods for healthcare service delivery using telecommunications technologies.
What is telehealth?
Telehealth means methods for healthcare service delivery using telecommunications technologies. Telehealth includes telemedicine, store and forward, and telemonitoring.
The term telehealth is also often used more generally to describe electronic information and telecommunications technologies to support long-distance clinical healthcare, as well as patient and professional health-related education, public health and health administration.
What is telemedicine?
Telemedicine means health care delivered by a provider who is located at a distant site to a beneficiary at an originating site for purposes of evaluation, diagnosis, consultation, or treatment using telecommunications technology via two-way, real-time, audio and video interactive communication, through a secure connection that complies with HIPAA.
The term "telemedicine" is sometimes used interchangeably with "telehealth." Telehealth encompasses the following:
- Real-time, audio-video communication tools that connect providers and patients in different locations. Tools can include interactive videoconferencing or videoconferencing using mobile health (mHealth) applications (apps) that are used on a computer or hand-held mobile device.
- Store-and-forward technologies that collect images and data to be transmitted and interpreted later, which may also involve the use of mHealth apps.
- Remote patient-monitoring tools such as home blood pressure monitors, Bluetooth-enabled digital scales and other devices that can communicate biometric data for review, which may also involve the use of mHealth apps.
Is telemedicine a covered service under Vermont Medicaid?
Yes - this type of service is reimbursable through VT Medicaid as long as it is clinically appropriate and within the provider’s licensed scope of practice. This includes the provision of mental health and substance use disorder treatment. Vermont Medicaid has an established telemedicine Place of Service (POS) code 02 (Telehealth) for use by practitioners providing telehealth services from off site.
Note: Audio-only or written interactions, such as communication by telephone, email, instant messaging, fax or online questionnaires are generally not considered telemedicine and are not covered services under Vermont Medicaid.
Updates
Effective July 1, 2020, Vermont Medicaid announced continued coverage and reimbursement for HCPCS G2010 and new coverage and reimbursement for interprofessional consultations when performed through store and forward technology (i.e., provider to provider store and forward, CPT codes 99451 & 99452). Thus, providers are reminded that the allowed modifier for CPT codes 99451 & 99452 is modifier GQ (i.e., “through an asynchronous telecommunications system”).”
See our brochure: Telehealth Services: Information for Vermont Medicaid Providers
Click below for additional resources. Want more information or have questions? Contact your provider representative at (800) 925-1706 (in-state toll free) or (802) 878-7871 (out of state).