Did you know that, effective January 1, 2025, "on the fly" telephone services are no longer billable?

However, there are still appropriate ways to provide and bill for care when patients are unable or unwilling to participate in an in-person or video visit. In these cases, a scheduled telephone visit with a physician or APP may be an option.

To ensure proper documentation and billing, specific criteria must be met. The Department of Medicine Epic and Billing Education teams have partnered to develop clear, easy-to-follow workflows and guidelines—helping you navigate these changes efficiently and ensure you receive appropriate credit for the care you provide.

Telephone visits are only billable when:

1. The patient is in the State of Connecticut, or a state in which you are licensed.

2. There is a scheduled telephone visit with the patient.

3. The patient is an established patient in your practice.

4. The patient is unwilling or unable to participate in a video visit.

5. More than 10 minutes of medical discussion takes place with the patient.

Required documentation must be added:

The Telephone Visit SmartPhrase must be documented in your note using the available speed button. When billing based on time, the .IMTotalMinutes SmartPhrase must also be used.

The appropriate code must be selected:

The equivalent face-to-face established patient visit code based on MDM, or total time spent on the day of the encounter.

During the call, the clinician must:

1. Obtain verbal consent from the patient for the call.

2. Verify patient identity (name/DOB/street address).

3. Confirm the state the patient is located in.

Resources: Below are additional resources created by the Department of Internal Medicine’s Epic and Billing Education teams:

• Telephone Billing and Documentation Presentation (PDF)
• Telephone Visit Epic Documentation and Billing Guide (Video)
• Telehealth Billing and Documentation Presentation (Video)
• Telehealth Visit (Video/Telephone) Documentation and Billing Guide (PDF)

If you have any questions, please contact your department billing experts, Shannon McGrath and Saridia Morgan directly, or at IntMedHelp@yale.edu.