Never before has mankind faced a health challenge as intense, as the one faced now.The COVID-19 has spread to every corner of the globe. It all started in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December as a form of respiratory illness, distinct from pneumonia.
When the disease first surfaced, no one knew where it had come from, the only indication then being that the workers at a wet market where exotic live animals were sold, were carriers of the disease.
Soon after a 61-year man who had been a regular at the market died, the blame was attributed to bats, then the pangolins, then the shoppers that acquired the delicacies for eating it, and finally the blame has since been attributed to China.
As the disease spread, and a lockdown of the region followed, all flights were cancelled. The virus found its way into the lungs, and on fingertips, going beyond the realm of control, it has since travelled far and wide hitting 203 countries, around the globe.
In February, when the first U.S patient with COVID-19 walked into the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett (Wash), providing high quality care was a challenge. No up-to-date information was available on the virus, and exposure to other patients as well as the hospital’s own staff had to be prevented.
The health facility deployed telemedicine carts, with the staff positioning video camera and other telemedicine equipment into the patient’s room, this facilitated a physician to examine the patient without physically being present at the bedside.
As Dr.Todd Czartoski, chief medical technology officer at Providence speaking to Modern Healthcare noted that they had people outside the room talking to the patient evaluating them with the electronic stethoscope, and keeping those communication lines open.
Emphasising, the doctor explained that the hospital’s infectious disease doctor and other specialists didn’t have to wear protective gowns, and visit the patient multiple times a day.
COVID-19 has compelled healthcare professionals to explore alternatives to face-to-face encounters with patients infected with the virus.
As more and more physicians are looking out for non-public facing remote communication products, and platforms such as Apple, FaceTime, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts, Whatsapp video chat, and Skype are increasingly being sought.
More importantly HIPAA compliant platforms, such as Skype for Business, Updox, VSee, Zoom for Healthcare, Doxy.me, Google G Suite Hangouts Meet are being recommended.
Even texting applications such as Signal, Facebook Messenger, Google Hangouts, Whatsapp or iMessage are proving to be valuable modes of communications for virtual health consultations.
Appreciating the role of physicians in combating COVID-19, the Philadelphia Inquirer in a recent publication reported that doctors in Philly despite having COVID-19, were still treating patients virtually.
Doctor Diagnosed With COVID-19 Remotely Treating Patients
Citing the example of Dr. Aditi Joshi, who works for Jefferson Health, the publication noted the doctor’s experience of the effects of COVED-19. It all started with a mild dry cough, followed by body aches and chills that came two days later, and when Joshi’s fever spiked to 102 degrees, the emergency medicine physician lost her senses of smell and taste. The ‘khichdi’ and hot indian spices poured over it, had little impact on her taste buds. Nonetheless, being quarantined alone inside her home in Philadelphia for two weeks, she continued treating patients virtually.
Using telemedicine, Joshi continues treating patients that suffer from the same COVID-19 symptoms similar to what she’s experiencing. Speaking to ‘The Philadelphia Inquirer’ Joshi contended that “When you get something yourself, you can actually understand what people mean,” further affirming “And for me, there’s something helpful about feeling like I don’t have to sit back and do nothing about it.”
The past week has seen appointment requests for video ‘visits’ with doctors increase ten-fold, as patients seek information on COVID-19. Emergency Room visits are being put-off because of coronavirus,
Following the pandemic, rules have also been relaxed, Medicare and private insurers are providing cover for virtual health care, with patients needing only a computer or cell phone with a video function for remote consultation with physicians.
BILLING TIPS FOR TELEMEDICINE
The day-to-day evolving changes in telemedicine as a result of COVID-19 makes it difficult for health systems to stay updated. The guidelines are still at the formative stage, and from payer to payer they are currently varied. In the coming days, clear guidelines for billing telemedicines across all payers should be available. As a practice that is exploring telemedicine, it is imperative to understand the current existing guidelines, as they are, so that the billing process continues, and filing of claims is not delayed.
Major Payers That Cover Telemedicine
Other than these payers, Medicare also covers telemedicine, the rules for telehealth have been expanded, following the current coronavirus crises. The reimbursement regulations are gradually being eased, considering COVID-19.
Pre-Verify Patient’s Insurance Policy to Determine If Telemedicine is Covered
Verifying coverage of the patient’s insurance before their first telemedicine visit is a good practice, it paves the way for getting paid for providing telemedicine services.
Before calling the payer, ensure that a telemedicine insurance verification form is available to document the representative’s answers. Having everything documented on the form, with the call reference number enables the account team to fight a denial claim, if it was notified earlier by the payer that telemedicine was covered, the call reference number would confirm it, and the payer will have to honor that.
Please stay indoors and stay safe during this COVID – 19 (Coronavirus) pandemic. Let us support our healthcare professionals who are tirelessly working for us and our emergency & first responders who are continuing to fight the virus every day.
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