In 2024, over three-quarters of behavioral health professionals in the U.S. incorporated telehealth in their practice. The CDC cited the threefold increase in virtual therapy visits since 2020 as due to convenience, accessibility, and increasing patient demand.
In the opinion of many therapists, telehealth billing is also one of the least clear and time-consuming aspects of a private practice. Among the telehealth modifiers, the CPT codes of telehealth visits, and the shift of the billing rule to 2025, it is not difficult to commit a mistake that can result in the refusal to accept the claim.
Reading this guide, you will be given a full understanding of what you need to know: CPT 99443 to modifier 95 and POS 11, so that you can master telehealth billing for therapists and dedicate more time to the patient.
Understanding Telehealth Billing as a therapist
Telehealth billing is the procedure of filing and receiving reimbursements for virtual or distant therapy consultations delivered through video, phone, or some other communication medium.
In contrast to the conventional face-to-face billing, telehealth claims need:
- Special CPT codes (Current Procedural Terminology).
- Modifiers that show that the service was provided at a distance.
- Place of service (POS) codes that determine the locations of telehealth.
Why It Matters
Miscoding of telehealth may result in delayed payments, rejections, or underpayments. In order to fulfill the telehealth billing requirements of Medicare, Medicaid, and any other insurers (such as Blue Cross Blue Shield) in 2024–2025, you have to follow these rules.
Common CPT Codes of Telehealth Visits (2024-2025)
CPT codes identify the type and duration of services provided. For therapy and telehealth visits in 2025, commonly used CPT codes for telehealth include:
| CPT Code | Description | Use Case |
| 90791 | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation | 1st intake/assessment |
| 90832-010 | Psychotherapy, 30 minutes | Short therapy session |
| 90834 | Psychotherapy, 45 minutes | Standard therapy session |
| 90837 | 60 minutes of psychotherapy | Extended therapy session |
| 90846/90847 | Family psychotherapy | With or without the patient present |
| 99441-99443 | Telephone E/M services | Telephone-only visits (e.g. 99443 2130 mins) |
Such telehealth CPT codes for 2024 and 2025 are acceptable under the majority of insurance plans, but their documentation policies can vary under the payers, such as BCBS and Medicare.
Accurate billing starts with proper eligibility verification. If you haven’t already, read our detailed article on How to Verify Insurance Benefits Before a Therapy Session to reduce claim denials and payment delays.
Key Modifiers for Telehealth Services
Modifiers indicate that a service was performed via telecommunication technology.
Modifier 95 for Telehealth
Modifier 95 is the most essential modifier to telehealth. It informs the payer that the service was provided through a synchronous (real-time) telecommunication.
Example:
90837-95 60-minute psychotherapeutic session on video.
Additional Common Telehealth Modifiers
- GT: There are still some private players who need this rather than 95.
- GQ: In asynchronous (store-and-forward) telemedicine.
- FQ / FR: In audio-only or hybrid telehealth visits.
Telehealth Place of Service Codes
- The POS10 patient is at home during the telehealth session.
- POS 02 to Telehealth services outside home (e.g., clinic, facility)
- POS11 to In-office service (where it is applicable under modifier 95)
Audio-Only and Phone Consult Telehealth Billing
Some clients don’t have access to videos. For phone-only sessions, remember to use the correct CPT codes for telephone visits, like
- 99441, 99442, 99443 – Phone evaluation and management services and
- 98966–98968 – Telephone assessment by non-physician providers.
Modifier 93 and the correct place of service code (often 10 or 02) should be used to identify audio-only sessions during phone-only telehealth visits. A telehealth visit conducted at the patient’s home over the phone is denoted by the code “99443-93-10.”
Telehealth Billing Guidelines 2024-2025
Here are some things you should be aware of in 2025 when telehealth regulations change once more with regards to billing.
- The telehealth extension benefit of Medicare to mental and behavioral health services remains open to permanent extension.
- The audio-only sessions (such as phone calls) are covered in case of clinical suitability.
- BCBS telehealth billing guidelines 2025 demand payer-specific codes and documentation (particularly in behavioral health billing).
- Telemedicine CPT codes 20242025 have been equalized with the in-person services rates of most payers.
Real Life Case: Prevention of Denial of a Telehealth Billing.
In 2020, a virtual session started to be offered by a licensed clinical therapist in Chicago. The billings she made were 90837 without any modifier 95 or POS 10.
Her insurance claims were refused several times, resulting in her losing thousands in revenue. After she had corrected her claims to 90837-95 using POS 10, all further claims were reimbursed without a problem.
Lesson: Be careful when using the right modifier of the telehealth and place of service code in order to avoid making expensive mistakes.
Medicare and BCBS Telehealth Billing Updates (2025)
Medicare and BCBS have updated their policies to simplify telehealth billing for mental health providers.
Medicare Telehealth Mental Health
- Medicare also still provides therapy sessions over the internet, such as psychotherapy and psychiatric assessment of cases.
- In the case of POS 10, therapists should record the address of the patient at home.
- Audio-only sessions and video sessions are both eligible, provided that they are clinically appropriate.
Billings Guidelines, BCBS Telehealth 2025
- Telehealth psychotherapy can be pre-authorized by the BCBS plans.
- Reimbursement parity is still in force-telestroke visits are reimbursed the same way as face-to-face visits.
- Denials can be prevented by adhering to payer-specific modification and documentation requirements.
Reimbursement of Telehealth vs. In‑Person Sessions
The 2025 CMS regulations have changed the reimbursement of telehealth and face-to-face visits to be almost similar.
Use the following to get selected:
- Choose the correct telehealth CPT codes, such as 90837, 99214, or 99443.
- Insert live video modifier 95 and phone only modifier 93.
- Submit claims with POS 10 or 02.
- Add the length of the session and the patient consent form.
Common Telehealth Billing Errors
- Inappropriate modifier – GT (rather than 95 or 93) to be used in contemporary claims.
- POS code wrongly filled in 11 (office) instead of 02 or 10.
- Incomplete paperwork – the absence of documenting patient consent and technology.
- Uncheckable payer regulations – of the payers (Medicare, BCBS, Cigna), they have different telehealth billing rules.
- Old CPT codes- always make sure that you use the newly updated telemedicine CPT codes of 2024-2025, and also make sure not to use old ones when making claims.
Documentation Requirements Telehealth (2024-2025)
In order to remain attached to telehealth documentation requirements in 2024, it is obligatory to include:
- Verbal consent or written consent of a patient to telehealth.
- Time spent in the session.
- Technology employed (video or audio).
- Clinical records in line with face-to-face sessions.
- Position of the patient and the provider in the session.
Proper documentation prevents denial of claims and effective audits.
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Final Thoughts
There’s no reason for telehealth billing to become an issue. Therapists simply have to use the right codes, modifiers, and proper documentation to receive timely payment for their sessions. Learning the updated 2025 CPT and payer rules minimizes the chances of getting paid for the service and allows you to unload the admin work and concentrate on top-tier care. Providers Care Billing LLC assists mental health specialists in streamlining their telehealth billing system, maintaining compliance, and improving their revenue. From solo to group practices, our dedicated billing team will guarantee that the claims we process for you will be accurate and paid for on time.
FAQs
1. Is it possible to bill 90837 as telehealth?
Yes. CPT 90837 is a one hour psychotherapy session that is conducted through telehealth.
2. How to bill in a telehealth environment?
Telehealth billing resembles face-to-face visits. Electronically submit claims to your payer and be paid.
3. What CPT codes can be billed using telehealth?
- 90832–90837
- 99213–99215
- 99441–99443
4. Should physical therapists impose a fee on telehealth?
Yes. Given the policy of the payer, physical therapists are able to charge telehealth on codes 97110 and 97530.
5. What is the Reimbursement of 90837?
The minimum price of 90837 depends on the location, although the average price is 110-140, and it is the same as telehealth in 2025.
6. How often do you bill telehealth visits?
Billing frequency is not restricted as long as the insurance of patients is not restricted. Don’t ignore the billing procedure.
7. What about the seven-day rule of telehealth?
The 7-day rule of Medicare denies an alternative evaluation-and-management examination the right to be billed due to the same problem within a span of seven days of a previous telehealth visit unless medically necessary.
8. Should 90837 or 90834 be billed?
In a 60-minute visit, administer 90837; in a 45-minute visit, administer 90834. Bill and the patient are tracked in real time.
9. What distinguishes telemedicine from telehealth?
Telemedicine is specifically defined as clinical care provided by a physician, whereas telehealth is wider and is associated with therapy and non-physician care.
10. Does Medicare cover therapy over the phone?
Yes. The audio-only sessions of therapy are reimbursed by Medicare by use of the modifier 93 and the corresponding telephone visit code (99441, 99443)..
