Email, Phone & Fax
When billing for any audio-only telemedicine services, distant site providers shall enter the “93” procedure modifier on the claim.
SOURCE: Department of Health Care Finance – Telemedicine Provider Guidance, Jan. 2023, pg. 4. Physicians Billing Manual. DC Medicaid. (Mar. 2025) Sec.15.4. P. 53, Clinic Billing Manual, DC Medicaid (Mar. 2025), Sec. 15.4, P. 50. FQHC Billing Manual, DC Medicaid 15.4, P. 51. (Mar. 2025), Behavioral Health Billing Manual (Mar. 2025) 14.4, p. 69, Inpatient Hospital Billing Guide, 11.4, p. 61 (Mar. 2025), Long-Term Care Billing Manual, 15.4, p. 51 (Mar. 2025). (Accessed Apr. 2025).
DHCF added audio-only communication as an allowable method of telemedicine services. A telemedicine provider that utilizes audio-only communication methods is required to use audio equipment that ensures clear communication and includes echo cancellation.
SOURCE: DC Municipal Regulation. Title 29, Ch. 9, Sec. 910.2. & 910.13 & Department of Health Care Finance – Telemedicine Provider Guidance, Jan. 2023, p. 6. (Accessed Apr. 2025).
DC Medicaid does not reimburse for service delivery using e-mail messages or facsimile transmissions.
SOURCE: DC Code Sec. 31-3861 & Department of Health Care Finance – Telemedicine Provider Guidance, Jan. 2023, p. 1. (Accessed Apr. 2025).
Services delivered through audio-only telephones, electronic mail messages or facsimile transmission are not included under telehealth services.
SOURCE: Physicians Billing Manual. DC Medicaid. (Mar. 2025) Sec. 15. P. 52, Clinic Billing Manual, DC Medicaid (Mar. 2025), Sec. 15, P. 49. FQHC Billing Manual, DC Medicaid 15 P. 50. (Mar. 2025), Behavioral Health Billing Manual (Mar. 2025) 14, p. 68, Outpatient Hospital Billing Guide, 15.8, p. 73 (Mar. 2025), Inpatient Hospital Billing Guide, 11, p. 60 (Mar. 2025), Long-Term Care Billing Manual, 15, p. 50 (Mar. 2025). (Accessed Apr. 2025).
Community Support Services
Finalized and emergency regulations specify that community support services may be provided via audio-only or audio-visual telemedicine pursuant to Title 29 DCMR 910. Audio-only telemedicine services are limited to six (6) units per one hundred eighty (180) day period, unless otherwise authorized by the Department pursuant to the Department’s billing manual. A provider may bill an additional twenty (20) units of audio-only telemedicine services for collateral contacts, per one hundred eighty (180) day period. Telemedicine is specified as a modality eligible for reimbursement for certain mental health rehabilitation services when its use is supported by evidence-based practices.
SOURCE: DC Municipal Regulation, Title 22, Chap. 22-A34, Sec. 3421; Department of Behavioral Health Notice of Final Rulemaking – Amending 22-A DCMR Ch. 34 – Assertive Community Treatment Reimbursement Methodology. Mar. 2025.; Department of Behavioral Health, Notice of Third Emergency and Proposed Rulemaking – Amending 22-A DCMR Ch. 34, etc. – Intensive Care Coordination. Mar. 2025. (Accessed Apr. 2025).
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