Distant Site
Under Medicare telehealth rules, the location of the practitioner delivering the telehealth service.
1 min read · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
At a glance
- Category
- Telehealth
- Primary sources
- 1
- Workspace handoff
- ask d3 →
Where this comes up
Telehealth coding, place-of-service, modifier (95, GT, GQ, FQ, FR), and post-PHE policy parity all converge here. State licensure rules and DEA controlled-substance prescribing rules add a second compliance layer most billers learn about only after the first denial.
Full definition
What it is in practice
CMS Telehealth requires the distant-site practitioner to be enrolled and authorized. Practitioner types eligible for distant-site billing have expanded under CAA flexibilities.
How it shows up in your practice
Confirm each practitioner's eligibility before scheduling telehealth visits. Document the distant-site location for cross-state and licensure purposes.
Sources
- CMS — Medicare Telehealth Services Listhttps://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/telehealth/list-services
Confirm distant-site requirements in Ask D3
Open ask d3 →Related terms
- TelehealthTelehealthDelivery of health care services through audio-video or audio-only technology when the patient is not at the same location as the practitioner.
- TelehealthOriginating SiteUnder traditional Medicare telehealth rules, the location of the patient at the time of the telehealth service.
- TelehealthInterstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)A compact allowing physicians licensed in one member state to obtain expedited licensure in other member states.
D3rx is a healthcare-billing and compliance research aid maintained by D3rx Inc. Articles are drafted by an LLM (Anthropic Claude) against primary HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and state-regulator publications, and reviewed for restraint and source fidelity by the D3rx team.
Reviewer status: a named credentialed reviewer (CHC, CHPC, or healthcare attorney) is being engaged. Until that engagement is finalized, this page does not claim credentialed review.
Related across the archive
- GlossaryOriginating SiteUnder traditional Medicare telehealth rules, the location of the patient at the time of the telehealth service.
- GlossaryTelehealthDelivery of health care services through audio-video or audio-only technology when the patient is not at the same location as the practitioner.
- GlossaryInterstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)A compact allowing physicians licensed in one member state to obtain expedited licensure in other member states.
- GlossaryAudio-Only TelehealthTelehealth services delivered via telephone or other audio-only technology, without a video component.
- GlossaryModifier 93 (Audio-Only Synchronous Telehealth)CPT modifier indicating a synchronous telemedicine service rendered via audio-only technology.
- GlossaryModifier 95CPT modifier indicating a synchronous telemedicine service rendered via real-time interactive audio and video.
- GlossaryModifier GQ (Asynchronous Telehealth)HCPCS modifier indicating asynchronous (store-and-forward) telecommunications technology was used for the telehealth service.
- RegulationMLN: Medicare Telehealth ServicesReference to Medicare's telehealth policy: covered services list, originating and distant site rules, technology requirements, and the COVID-era flexibilities and their post-PHE status.
This glossary entry is a research aid for billing and compliance staff. It does not provide legal, medical, or financial advice and does not replace counsel. References cited link to primary sources at HHS, OCR, CMS, eCFR, NIST, and the relevant payer or industry body.