Telehealth
Delivery of health care services through audio-video or audio-only technology when the patient is not at the same location as the practitioner.
1 min read · Last reviewed May 23, 2026
At a glance
- Category
- Telehealth
- Primary sources
- 2
- 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 and Telehealth.HHS.gov define the federal framework. Telehealth coverage and reimbursement vary by payer; CMS publishes an annual Medicare Telehealth Services List.
How it shows up in your practice
Confirm the service is on the Medicare list, use the correct POS (02 or 10), and apply telehealth modifiers (95, GT, GQ) as required by payer. State licensure for cross-state telehealth is the other major compliance touchpoint.
Sources
- CMS — Medicare Telehealth Services Listhttps://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/telehealth/list-services
- HHS Telehealth.HHS.govhttps://telehealth.hhs.gov/
Confirm telehealth coverage in Ask D3
Open ask d3 →Related terms
- TelehealthTelehealth POS Codes (02 and 10)Place of Service 02 (telehealth other than home) and POS 10 (telehealth in patient's home) identify telehealth encounters on professional claims.
- TelehealthModifier 95CPT modifier indicating a synchronous telemedicine service rendered via real-time interactive audio and video.
- TelehealthAudio-Only TelehealthTelehealth services delivered via telephone or other audio-only technology, without a video component.
- TelehealthInterstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)A compact allowing physicians licensed in one member state to obtain expedited licensure in other member states.
- TelehealthOriginating SiteUnder traditional Medicare telehealth rules, the location of the patient at the time of the telehealth service.
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
- GlossaryAudio-Only TelehealthTelehealth services delivered via telephone or other audio-only technology, without a video component.
- GlossaryInterstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC)A compact allowing physicians licensed in one member state to obtain expedited licensure in other member states.
- GlossaryModifier 95CPT modifier indicating a synchronous telemedicine service rendered via real-time interactive audio and video.
- GlossaryOriginating SiteUnder traditional Medicare telehealth rules, the location of the patient at the time of the telehealth service.
- GlossaryTelehealth POS Codes (02 and 10)Place of Service 02 (telehealth other than home) and POS 10 (telehealth in patient's home) identify telehealth encounters on professional claims.
- GlossaryDistant SiteUnder Medicare telehealth rules, the location of the practitioner delivering the telehealth service.
- GlossaryModifier 93 (Audio-Only Synchronous Telehealth)CPT modifier indicating a synchronous telemedicine service rendered via audio-only technology.
- 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.