Healthcare Insights
Top 25 telemedicine procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic
While telemedicine systems, also described as telehealth, have been used by patients and providers for years, it wasn’t until the COVID-19 pandemic that adoption would skyrocket.
Social distancing guidelines, mandated lockdowns, and a general concern of being infected kept most patients indoors and shuttered the offices of many doctors. Telehealth rose to prominence during the height of the coronavirus and has continued to be used by doctors today to connect with patients, monitor ongoing conditions, and answer questions. As of 2022, COVID-19 remains “a public health emergency of international concern,” according to the WHO.
Using ClaimsMx, we’re able to track the kinds of procedures that happen most commonly over telemedicine. Since the pandemic began, this article has served as a record of procedures over the years starting from 2019. Below, we list the most up-to-date telemedicine procedure claims data.
| CPT code | CPT description | Total procedures | Total charges | Avg. charge/procedure | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99213 | OFFICE O/P EST LOW 20-29 MIN | 9,839,654 | $1,707,487,330 | $173.53 | Explore |
| 90837 | PSYTX W PT 60 MINUTES | 8,904,627 | $1,696,849,616 | $190.56 | Explore |
| 99214 | OFFICE O/P EST MOD 30-39 MIN | 8,283,113 | $2,107,506,250 | $254.43 | Explore |
| 90834 | PSYTX W PT 45 MINUTES | 4,334,431 | $731,873,894 | $168.85 | Explore |
| 99212 | OFFICE O/P EST SF 10-19 MIN | 1,844,177 | $215,475,297 | $116.84 | Explore |
| 99442 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 11-20 MIN | 1,716,845 | $248,251,109 | $144.60 | Explore |
| 90832 | PSYTX W PT 30 MINUTES | 1,701,955 | $274,908,170 | $161.52 | Explore |
| 90833 | PSYTX W PT W E/M 30 MIN | 1,448,258 | $206,845,789 | $142.82 | Explore |
| 99441 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 5-10 MIN | 1,226,929 | $102,094,138 | $83.21 | Explore |
| 99215 | OFFICE O/P EST HI 40-54 MIN | 952,399 | $392,412,264 | $412.03 | Explore |
| Q3014 | Telehealth facility fee | 910,318 | $85,306,074 | $93.71 | Explore |
| 99443 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 21-30 MIN | 868,138 | $186,078,805 | $214.34 | Explore |
| 90791 | PSYCH DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION | 853,224 | $213,053,379 | $249.70 | Explore |
| 92507 | SPEECH/HEARING THERAPY | 694,435 | $111,631,598 | $160.75 | Explore |
| 90853 | GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY | 516,573 | $66,946,324 | $129.60 | Explore |
| T1015 | Clinic service | 501,445 | $89,006,683 | $177.50 | Explore |
| 99203 | OFFICE O/P NEW LOW 30-44 MIN | 498,301 | $132,795,063 | $266.50 | Explore |
| H2019 | Behavioral therapy svc, per 15 min | 497,796 | $65,120,103 | $130.82 | Explore |
| 99204 | OFFICE O/P NEW MOD 45-59 MIN | 473,471 | $194,634,434 | $411.08 | Explore |
| 99202 | OFFICE O/P NEW SF 15-29 MIN | 458,093 | $61,910,312 | $135.15 | Explore |
| H0004 | Alcohol and/or drug services | 455,732 | $73,391,898 | $161.04 | Explore |
| 99211 | OFF/OP EST MAY X REQ PHY/QHP | 412,729 | $34,565,786 | $83.75 | Explore |
| 90847 | FAMILY PSYTX W/PT 50 MIN | 365,531 | $73,081,739 | $199.93 | Explore |
| G2012 | Brief check in by md/qhp | 322,135 | $12,270,672 | $38.09 | Explore |
| 90785 | PSYTX COMPLEX INTERACTIVE | 312,303 | $17,438,897 | $55.84 | Explore |
Fig. 1 Data from Definitive Healthcare’s Medical Claims database. Data is from the calendar year 2022 through August (most recent available). Commercial claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States. Data accessed September 2022.
Many of the top telemedicine procedure codes for 2022 relate to outpatient visits with established patients over a certain period of time. For example, CPT codes 99213, 99214, and 99212 (ranks 1,3, and 5 respectively) describe patient visits for acute injuries or illnesses of varying degrees of severity. CPT 99213 is coded when a patient with a stable chronic illness or acute uncomplicated injury meets with their doctor for 20-29 minutes. However, code 99214 describes a patient with a progressing illness or an injury that requires potential surgical treatment. Finally, code 99212 describes a patient with a condition that requires over-the-counter medication for treatment.
Many telemedicine procedures in 2022 were for therapy-related services. CPT codes 90837 and 90834 describe psychotherapy sessions to treat symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stressors at work and home. Other types of therapy, like speech and hearing (CPT 92507) and therapeutic behavioral services (CPT H2019) also feature on our list. From our research into telemedicine procedures, we’ve previously identified that therapies and mental health-related specialties are a good fit for telemedicine.
| CPT code | CPT description | Total procedures | Total charges | Avg. charge/procedure | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99213 | OFFICE O/P EST LOW 20-29 MIN | 20,899,613 | $3,437,748,659 | $164.49 | Explore |
| 99214 | OFFICE O/P EST MOD 30-39 MIN | 16,393,576 | $3,923,341,743 | $239.32 | Explore |
| 90837 | PSYTX W PT 60 MINUTES | 15,538,110 | $2,817,426,939 | $181.32 | Explore |
| 90834 | PSYTX W PT 45 MINUTES | 8,754,742 | $1,429,342,675 | $163.26 | Explore |
| 99442 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 11-20 MIN | 3,926,625 | $532,837,088 | $135.70 | Explore |
| 99212 | OFFICE O/P EST SF 10-19 MIN | 3,854,184 | $432,266,497 | $112.16 | Explore |
| 90832 | PSYTX W PT 30 MINUTES | 3,815,245 | $582,767,158 | $152.75 | Explore |
| 99441 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 5-10 MIN | 2,659,144 | $213,525,828 | $80.30 | Explore |
| 90833 | PSYTX W PT W E/M 30 MIN | 2,326,174 | $321,743,528 | $138.31 | Explore |
| 99443 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 21-30 MIN | 2,126,108 | $424,473,299 | $199.65 | Explore |
| Q3014 | Telehealth facility fee | 1,935,009 | $171,320,340 | $88.54 | Explore |
| 99215 | OFFICE O/P EST HI 40-54 MIN | 1,726,297 | $625,644,543 | $362.42 | Explore |
| 90791 | PSYCH DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION | 1,688,685 | $399,545,977 | $236.60 | Explore |
| 92507 | SPEECH/HEARING THERAPY | 1,559,499 | $252,000,371 | $161.59 | Explore |
| 99203 | OFFICE O/P NEW LOW 30-44 MIN | 1,305,826 | $329,358,425 | $252.22 | Explore |
| T1016 | Case management | 1,282,745 | $148,669,399 | $115.90 | Explore |
| H2019 | Ther behav svc, per 15 min | 1,263,664 | $146,962,873 | $116.30 | Explore |
| 90853 | GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY | 1,118,354 | $146,282,343 | $130.80 | Explore |
| 99204 | OFFICE O/P NEW MOD 45-59 MIN | 1,060,675 | $398,404,939 | $375.61 | Explore |
| T1015 | Clinic service | 1,022,892 | $180,483,880 | $176.44 | Explore |
| 99211 | OFF/OP EST MAY X REQ PHY/QHP | 964,524 | $85,518,906 | $88.66 | Explore |
| H0004 | Alcohol and/or drug services | 839,302 | $138,708,961 | $165.27 | Explore |
| 90847 | FAMILY PSYTX W/PT 50 MIN | 837,824 | $160,377,335 | $191.42 | Explore |
| 99202 | OFFICE O/P NEW SF 15-29 MIN | 745,373 | $120,558,035 | $161.74 | Explore |
| G2012 | Brief check in by md/qhp | 717,279 | $27,964,688 | $38.99 | Explore |
Fig. 2 Data from Definitive Healthcare’s Medical Claims database. Data is from the calendar year 2021. Commercial claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States. Data updated as of September 2022.
Comparing 2021 against 2022, we can see that the types of telemedicine procedures performed remained relatively the same. Many of the top codes are shared between the two lists, with slight position changes. CPT code 99213 remains the most common procedure performed for the two years. Meanwhile, code 90837, which is ranked third on our 2021 list, moves up to take the second-place position in 2022. Both lists prominently feature procedures related to therapy and psychiatry.
| CPT code | CPT description | Totalprocedures | Total charges | Avg. charge/procedure | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99213 | OFFICE O/P EST LOW 20-29 MIN | 26,771,069 | $4,201,564,363 | $156.94 | Explore |
| 99214 | OFFICE O/P EST MOD 30-39 MIN | 17,828,245 | $4,118,233,138 | $230.99 | Explore |
| 90837 | PSYTX W PT 60 MINUTES | 11,657,173 | $2,058,407,338 | $176.58 | Explore |
| 90834 | PSYTX W PT 45 MINUTES | 7,597,689 | $1,207,928,924 | $158.99 | Explore |
| 99442 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 11-20 MIN | 6,081,905 | $656,491,707 | $107.94 | Explore |
| 99441 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 5-10 MIN | 4,419,903 | $278,493,902 | $63.01 | Explore |
| 99212 | OFFICE O/P EST SF 10-19 MIN | 4,342,481 | $446,051,682 | $102.72 | Explore |
| 90832 | PSYTX W PT 30 MINUTES | 3,722,389 | $534,911,901 | $143.70 | Explore |
| 99443 | PHONE E/M PHYS/QHP 21-30 MIN | 3,314,787 | $540,517,998 | $163.06 | Explore |
| Q3014 | Telehealth facility fee | 2,444,445 | $195,830,210 | $80.11 | Explore |
| 92507 | SPEECH/HEARING THERAPY | 1,820,362 | $289,200,316 | $158.87 | Explore |
| 99203 | OFFICE O/P NEW LOW 30-44 MIN | 1,585,746 | $386,869,791 | $243.97 | Explore |
| 90833 | PSYTX W PT W E/M 30 MIN | 1,580,870 | $210,093,552 | $132.90 | Explore |
| 99215 | OFFICE O/P EST HI 40-54 MIN | 1,385,665 | $462,629,445 | $333.87 | Explore |
| 90791 | PSYCH DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION | 1,365,701 | $322,171,358 | $235.90 | Explore |
| G2012 | Brief check in by md/qhp | 1,315,198 | $55,073,050 | $41.87 | Explore |
| H2019 | Ther behav svc, per 15 min | 1,187,359 | $130,424,965 | $109.84 | Explore |
| T1016 | Case management | 1,182,485 | $120,977,096 | $102.31 | Explore |
| 97530 | THERAPEUTIC ACTIVITIES | 1,113,277 | $172,377,027 | $154.84 | Explore |
| 99204 | OFFICE O/P NEW MOD 45-59 MIN | 1,066,145 | $396,798,175 | $372.18 | Explore |
| 97110 | THERAPEUTIC EXERCISES | 1,015,057 | $153,475,649 | $151.20 | Explore |
| T1015 | Clinic service | 947,829 | $164,071,462 | $173.10 | Explore |
| 99211 | OFF/OP EST MAY X REQ PHY/QHP | 866,069 | $66,242,229 | $76.49 | Explore |
| 90847 | FAMILY PSYTX W/PT 50 MIN | 858,534 | $162,129,556 | $188.84 | Explore |
| 90853 | GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY | 794,864 | $112,132,020 | $141.07 | Explore |
Fig. 3 Data from Definitive Healthcare’s Medical Claims database. Data is from the calendar year 2020. Commercial claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States. Data updated as of September 2022.
Like 2022 and 2021, we can see that many of the same telemedicine procedures were performed in 2020.
It’s worth noting that procedure volume in 2020 is significantly higher than in 2019 and the years ahead of it. Telehealth encounters during this year had a staggering 8,336% national increase, with more than 160 million total visits. Patient visits would fall considerably in 2021 to roughly 120 million encounters. And while our claims data for telemedicine procedures is limited to only the first half of 2022, there have been only 59 million total encounters to date.
It seems likely that, as time goes on and the healthcare ecosystem adjusts to the consequences of the pandemic, telemedicine encounters will decline until it reaches a state of equilibrium. You can learn more about the future of telehealth, and which specialties the service isn’t a good fit for, by reading our blog here.
| CPT code | CPT description | Total procedures | Total charges | Avg. charge/procedure | Explore dataset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q3014 | Telehealth facility fee | 359,836 | $17,707,493 | $49 | Explore |
| 93295 | Interrogation device evaluation(s) (remote) up to 90 days | 354151 | $61,884,420 | $175 | Explore |
| 99441 | Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician; 5-10 minutes | 242080 | $5,118,548 | $21 | Explore |
| 93228 | Remote imaging for monitoring and management of active retinal disease with physician review interpretation and report | 130915 | $15,874,133 | $121 | Explore |
| 99442 | Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician; 11-20 minutes | 93259 | $2,700,217 | $29 | Explore |
| 99444 | Online evaluation and management service provided by a physician | 92604 | $4,732,859 | $51 | Explore |
| 95941 | Continuous intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring (remote or nearby); per hour | 85399 | $474,554,860 | $5,557 | Explore |
| 98969 | Online assessment and management service provided by a qualified nonphysician | 84669 | $4,110,542 | $49 | Explore |
| 93270 | External patient and auto-activated electrocardiographic rhythm derived event; remote download capability up to 30 days | 81857 | $18,367,689 | $224 | Explore |
| 93229 | External mobile cardiovascular telemetry with electrocardiographic recording; surveillance center for up to 30 days | 54661 | $95,786,613 | $1,752 | Explore |
| 92227 | Remote imaging for detection of retinal disease with analysis and report under physician supervision | 50143 | $3,180,386 | $63 | Explore |
| 99443 | Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician; 21-30 minutes | 28298 | $1,091,001 | $39 | Explore |
| 92228 | External mobile cardiovascular telemetry with electrocardiographic recording; surveillance up to 30 days | 16314 | $10,121,345 | $620 | Explore |
| 99451 | Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record assessment and management service; 5 minutes or more of medical consultative time | 12094 | $922,794 | $76 | Explore |
| T1014 | Telehealth transmission; per minute | 11529 | $259,371 | $22 | Explore |
| G0426 | Telehealth consultation emergency department or initial inpatient typically 50 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth | 5778 | $2,104,257 | $364 | Explore |
| G0425 | Telehealth consultation emergency department or initial inpatient typically 30 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth | 5533 | $1,455,588 | $263 | Explore |
| G0407 | Follow-up inpatient consultation limited physicians typically spend 25 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth | 5440 | $848,109 | $156 | Explore |
| G0406 | Follow-up inpatient consultation limited physicians typically spend 15 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth | 5330 | $490,575 | $92 | Explore |
| G0427 | Telehealth consultation emergency department or initial inpatient typically 70 minutes or more communicating with the patient via telehealth | 3863 | $1,898,397 | $491 | Explore |
| G0459 | Inpatient telehealth pharmacologic management including prescription use and review of medication with no more than minimal medical psychotherapy | 3210 | $369,802 | $115 | Explore |
| 99446 | Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record assessment and management service; 5-10 minutes of medical consultative discussion and review | 3064 | $228,873 | $75 | Explore |
| G0408 | Follow-up inpatient consultation physicians typically spend 35 minutes communicating with the patient via telehealth | 3049 | $737,654 | $242 | Explore |
| 99447 | Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record assessment and management service; 11-20 minutes of medical consultative discussion and review | 2258 | $292,066 | $129 | Explore |
| 99449 | Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record assessment and management service; 31 minutes or more of medical consultative discussion and review | 1408 | $246,454 | $175 | Explore |
Fig. 4 Data from Definitive Healthcare’s Medical Claims database. Data is from the calendar year 2020. Commercial claims data is sourced from multiple medical claims clearinghouses in the United States. Data updated as of September 2022.
For 2019, the most used telehealth procedure code was telehealth facility fee (Q3014), a CPT code used to request reimbursement for standard technology maintenance. Providers can report this code alongside any telehealth service given for assistance with any associated maintenance costs. As we can see from the charts, CPT code Q3014 fell sharply in the years that followed. The procedure dropped to rank 10 in 2020, and then once again to rank 11 where it would remain until the present day.
What’s the difference between telemedicine and telehealth?
While telemedicine and telehealth are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences between the terms. Telemedicine refers to the practice of medicine using technology to deliver care at a distance. Telehealth, however, instead refers to the technologies and services that provide care at a distance.
Regardless of precise definitions, both telemedicine and telehealth are vital to breaking down barriers to care. The expansion of telehealth technology can significantly increase the accessibility of healthcare, especially to people living in rural areas and underserved communities.
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