What role does telehealth play in healthcare billing?

Telehealth plays a significant role in healthcare billing by expanding available billing options. With the evolution of technology and healthcare delivery, telehealth has allowed providers to offer services remotely, which can be billed similarly to in-person visits. This versatility enables an array of services to be coded and billed, including consultations, follow-ups, and preventive care, making it easier for providers to reach patients who may have difficulty accessing traditional in-person care.

Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of telehealth, leading to more favorable reimbursement policies from insurers and government programs, thus increasing the potential for providers to bill for these services. This shift not only broadened access to care but also made it financially viable for healthcare providers to offer telehealth services.

The other options do not accurately reflect the impact of telehealth on billing. For instance, while telehealth may introduce some complexities, it generally serves to enhance rather than complicate billing processes. It does not limit services to be billed, and rather than reducing claims transparency, it has the potential to increase it through the documentation of telehealth service interactions.