In a previous video, I went over what a GT modifier is.
To catch you up to speed, a GT modifier is a code used in medical billing to identify that a service was provided through telemedicine.
Telemedicine, also referred to as telehealth, allows patients to be assessed, diagnosed, and treated by healthcare professionals remotely.
Telemedicine uses phone calls, video conferences, and other platforms - to provide services.
Telemedicine began in the late 1950s.
In 1959, clinicians used telecommunications technology to transmit neurological examinations across campus to medical students.
This event is considered the first use of real-time video communication in telemedicine around the world.
The clinicians were also able to provide additional services such as group and long-term therapy, and medical student training at Norfolk State Hospital.
Universities across America followed in its footsteps shortly after in the 1960’s, leveraging the technology in academic settings. It was used to transfer medical data such as X-rays, ECGs, stethoscope sounds, and more.
We’ve come a long way since the late 1950’s. Especially since Covid-19.
During Covid-19 we saw an exponential rise in the number of telemedicine appointments.
At this time telehealth visits increased from around 5 million to more than 53 million among Medicare recipients alone.
This is a significant increase.
Not only were remote appointments a safer option at the time, due to quarantine and social distancing, but people also realized the convenience of virtual appointments.
Around 85% of physicians are currently using telehealth to care for their patients.
When leveraged and used correctly, there are many benefits to telemedicine.
Telemedicine allows healthcare professionals to evaluate, diagnose, and treat patients from a distance, which can be especially useful for convenience, follow-up care, specialist consultations, and emergency situations.
Besides the obvious, remote clinical care is not the only benefit in itself of telehealth.
Yes, it is convenient, but it also offers remote monitoring, patient education, administrative services, and provider collaboration!
Remote monitoring gives doctors the ability to monitor patients’ chronic conditions remotely.
They are able to view patient symptoms, vital signs, and adherence to treatment plans using remote monitoring devices.
This monitoring helps doctors to detect issues early on in order to provide treatment in a quicker fashion.
Patient education is accessible through telemedicine. There are platforms provided via telemedicine that help keep patients educated and informed about their well-being. Patients are also able to direct questions and concerns through platforms. Education and communication are the benefits of this. Going off of communication, administrative services at your convenience are another benefit.
Patients are able to schedule appointments and follow ups through telemedicine. All patient information and results are in one place so patients can also view documents using telemedicine resources. Patients can also view additional comments or concerns doctors have made to their results.
The last benefit of telemedicine is provider collaboration.
Doctors can easily share patient information with other doctors to get their input or feedback. This decreases waiting time on results and altogether makes the process more efficient.
Platforms such as telemedicine also give patients access to a wide variety of specialists that they would not be able to see if it weren’t for technology.
Telemedicine is an amazing resource in the healthcare field that offers up many benefits.
With that being said, it’s important to understand proper billing practices and state regulations in regard to telemedicine so that we can make sure it is used properly.
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