What is telehealth and what Medicare related healthcare services are available through telehealth?

The Medicare & You handbook provided the following description of "telehealth":

"Medicare covers services like office visits, psychotherapy, consultations, and certain other medical or health services provided by an eligible provider who isn’t at your location using an interactive, two-way telecommunications system (like real-time audio and video). These services are available in rural areas, under certain conditions, but only if you’re located at: a doctor’s office, hospital, critical access hospital, Rural Health Clinic, Federally Qualified Health Center, hospital-based dialysis facility, skilled nursing facility, or community mental health center.

Medicare has expanded telehealth to include:

You can get certain telehealth services at renal dialysis facilities and at home.
You can get telehealth services for faster diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment of symptoms of an acute stroke no matter where you’re located.
If you have a substance use disorder [such as alchoholism] or a co-occurring mental health disorder, you can get telehealth services from home.

For most of these services, you’ll pay the same amount that you would if you got the services in person."

The Medicare & You handbook continues on to expand the geographically-limited concept telehealth noting that:

"Starting in 2020, Medicare Advantage Plans may offer more telehealth benefits than Original Medicare. These benefits will be available no matter where you’re located, and you can use them at home instead of going to a health care facility. Check with your plan to see what additional telehealth benefits are offered."

What services might be covered by telehealth?

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) provides the following list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth or telemedicine.

2025 LIST OF MEDICARE TELEHEALTH SERVICES effective January 1, 2025
HCPCS	Short Descriptor	Finalized Action	Category
0362T	Bhv id suprt assmt ea 15 min	Maintain	provisional
0373T	Adapt bhv tx ea 15 min	Maintain	provisional
0591T	Hlth&wb coaching indiv 1st	Maintain	provisional
0592T	Hlth&wb coaching indiv f-up	Maintain	provisional
0593T	Hlth&wb coaching indiv group	Maintain	provisional
77427	Radiation tx management x5	Maintain	provisional
90785	Psytx complex interactive	Maintain	permanent
90791	Psych diagnostic evaluation	Maintain	permanent
90792	Psych diag eval w/med srvcs	Maintain	permanent
90832	Psytx w pt 30 minutes	Maintain	permanent
90833	Psytx w pt w e/m 30 min	Maintain	permanent
90834	Psytx w pt 45 minutes	Maintain	permanent
90836	Psytx w pt w e/m 45 min	Maintain	permanent
90837	Psytx w pt 60 minutes	Maintain	permanent
90838	Psytx w pt w e/m 60 min	Maintain	permanent
90839	Psytx crisis initial 60 min	Maintain	permanent
90840	Psytx crisis ea addl 30 min	Maintain	permanent
90845	Psychoanalysis	Maintain	permanent
90846	Family psytx w/o pt 50 min	Maintain	permanent
90847	Family psytx w/pt 50 min	Maintain	permanent
90853	Group psychotherapy	Maintain	permanent
90875	Psychophysiological therapy	Maintain	provisional
90901	Biofeedback train any meth	Maintain	provisional
90951	Esrd serv 4 visits p mo <2yr	Maintain	permanent
90952	Esrd serv 2-3 vsts p mo <2yr	Maintain	permanent
90953	Esrd serv 1 visit p mo <2yrs	Maintain	provisional
90954	Esrd serv 4 vsts p mo 2-11	Maintain	permanent
90955	Esrd srv 2-3 vsts p mo 2-11	Maintain	permanent
90956	Esrd srv 1 visit p mo 2-11	Maintain	provisional
90957	Esrd srv 4 vsts p mo 12-19	Maintain	permanent
90958	Esrd srv 2-3 vsts p mo 12-19	Maintain	permanent
90959	Esrd serv 1 vst p mo 12-19	Maintain	provisional
90960	Esrd srv 4 visits p mo 20+	Maintain	permanent
90961	Esrd srv 2-3 vsts p mo 20+	Maintain	permanent
90962	Esrd serv 1 visit p mo 20+	Maintain	provisional
90963	Esrd home pt serv p mo <2yrs	Maintain	permanent
90964	Esrd home pt serv p mo 2-11	Maintain	permanent
90965	Esrd home pt serv p mo 12-19	Maintain	permanent
90966	Esrd home pt serv p mo 20+	Maintain	permanent
90967	Esrd svc pr day pt <2	Maintain	permanent
90968	Esrd svc pr day pt 2-11	Maintain	permanent
90969	Esrd svc pr day pt 12-19	Maintain	permanent
90970	Esrd svc pr day pt 20+	Maintain	permanent
92002	Eye exam new patient	Maintain	provisional
92004	Eye exam new patient	Maintain	provisional
92012	Eye exam establish patient	Maintain	provisional
92014	Eye exam&tx estab pt 1/>vst	Maintain	provisional
92507	Speech/hearing therapy	Maintain	provisional
92508	Speech/hearing therapy	Maintain	provisional
92521	Evaluation of speech fluency	Maintain	provisional
92522	Evaluate speech production	Maintain	provisional
92523	Speech sound lang comprehen	Maintain	provisional
92524	Behavral qualit analys voice	Maintain	provisional
92526	Oral function therapy	Maintain	provisional
92550	Tympanometry & reflex thresh	Maintain	provisional
92552	Pure tone audiometry air	Maintain	provisional
92553	Audiometry air & bone	Maintain	provisional
92555	Speech threshold audiometry	Maintain	provisional
92556	Speech audiometry complete	Maintain	provisional
92557	Comprehensive hearing test	Maintain	provisional
92563	Tone decay hearing test	Maintain	provisional
92565	Stenger test pure tone	Maintain	provisional
92567	Tympanometry	Maintain	provisional
92568	Acoustic refl threshold tst	Maintain	provisional
92570	Acoustic immitance testing	Maintain	provisional
92587	Evoked auditory test limited	Maintain	provisional
92588	Evoked auditory tst complete	Maintain	provisional
92601	Cochlear implt f/up exam <7	Maintain	provisional
92602	Reprogram cochlear implt <7	Maintain	provisional
92603	Cochlear implt f/up exam 7/>	Maintain	provisional
92604	Reprogram cochlear implt 7/>	Maintain	provisional
92607	Ex for speech device rx 1hr	Maintain	provisional
92608	Ex for speech device rx addl	Maintain	provisional
92609	Use of speech device service	Maintain	provisional
92610	Evaluate swallowing function	Maintain	provisional
92625	Tinnitus assessment	Maintain	provisional
92626	Eval aud funcj 1st hour	Maintain	provisional
92627	Eval aud funcj ea addl 15	Maintain	provisional
93750	Interrogation vad in person	Maintain	provisional
93797	Cardiac rehab	Maintain	provisional
93798	Cardiac rehab/monitor	Maintain	provisional
94002	Vent mgmt inpat init day	Maintain	provisional
94003	Vent mgmt inpat subq day	Maintain	provisional
94004	Vent mgmt nf per day	Maintain	provisional
94005	Home vent mgmt supervision	Maintain	provisional
94625	Phy/qhp op pulm rhb w/o mntr	Maintain	provisional
94626	Phy/qhp op pulm rhb w/ mntr	Maintain	provisional
94664	Evaluate pt use of inhaler	Maintain	provisional
95970	Alys npgt w/o prgrmg	Maintain	provisional
95971	Alys smpl sp/pn npgt w/prgrm	Maintain	provisional
95972	Alys cplx sp/pn npgt w/prgrm	Maintain	provisional
95983	Alys brn npgt prgrmg 15 min	Maintain	provisional
95984	Alys brn npgt prgrmg addl 15	Maintain	provisional
96105	Assessment of aphasia	Maintain	provisional
96110	Developmental screen w/score	Maintain	provisional
96112	Devel tst phys/qhp 1st hr	Maintain	provisional
96113	Devel tst phys/qhp ea addl	Maintain	provisional
96116	Nubhvl xm phys/qhp 1st hr	Maintain	permanent
96121	Nubhvl xm phy/qhp ea addl hr	Maintain	permanent
96125	Cognitive test by hc pro	Maintain	provisional
96127	Brief emotional/behav assmt	Maintain	provisional
96130	Psycl tst eval phys/qhp 1st	Maintain	provisional
96131	Psycl tst eval phys/qhp ea	Maintain	provisional
96132	Nrpsyc tst eval phys/qhp 1st	Maintain	provisional
96133	Nrpsyc tst eval phys/qhp ea	Maintain	provisional
96136	Psycl/nrpsyc tst phy/qhp 1st	Maintain	provisional
96137	Psycl/nrpsyc tst phy/qhp ea	Maintain	provisional
96138	Psycl/nrpsyc tech 1st	Maintain	provisional
96139	Psycl/nrpsyc tst tech ea	Maintain	provisional
96156	Hlth bhv assmt/reassessment	Maintain	permanent
96158	Hlth bhv ivntj indiv 1st 30	Maintain	permanent
96159	Hlth bhv ivntj indiv ea addl	Maintain	permanent
96160	Pt-focused hlth risk assmt	Maintain	permanent
96161	Caregiver health risk assmt	Maintain	permanent
96164	Hlth bhv ivntj grp 1st 30	Maintain	permanent
96165	Hlth bhv ivntj grp ea addl	Maintain	permanent
96167	Hlth bhv ivntj fam 1st 30	Maintain	permanent
96168	Hlth bhv ivntj fam ea addl	Maintain	permanent
96170	Hlth bhv ivntj fam wo pt 1st	Maintain	provisional
96171	Hlth bhv ivntj fam w/o pt ea	Maintain	provisional
96202	Hlth bhv intj ind 1st 30	Addition	provisional
96203	Hlth bhv ivntj ind ea addl	Addition	provisional
97110	Therapeutic exercises	Maintain	provisional
97112	Neuromuscular reeducation	Maintain	provisional
97116	Gait training therapy	Maintain	provisional
97129	Ther ivntj 1st 15 min	Maintain	provisional
97130	Ther ivntj ea addl 15 min	Maintain	provisional
97150	Group therapeutic procedures	Maintain	provisional
97151	Bhv id assmt by phys/qhp	Maintain	provisional
97152	Bhv id suprt assmt by 1 tech	Maintain	provisional
97153	Adaptive behavior tx by tech	Maintain	provisional
97154	Grp adapt bhv tx by tech	Maintain	provisional
97155	Adapt behavior tx phys/qhp	Maintain	provisional
97156	Fam adapt bhv tx gdn phy/qhp	Maintain	provisional
97157	Mult fam adapt bhv tx gdn	Maintain	provisional
97158	Grp adapt bhv tx by phy/qhp	Maintain	provisional
97161	Pt eval low complex 20 min	Maintain	provisional
97162	Pt eval mod complex 30 min	Maintain	provisional
97163	Pt eval high complex 45 min	Maintain	provisional
97164	Pt re-eval est plan care	Maintain	provisional
97165	Ot eval low complex 30 min	Maintain	provisional
97166	Ot eval mod complex 45 min	Maintain	provisional
97167	Ot eval high complex 60 min	Maintain	provisional
97168	Ot re-eval est plan care	Maintain	provisional
97530	Therapeutic activities	Maintain	provisional
97535	Self care mngment training	Maintain	provisional
97537	Community/work reintegration	Maintain	provisional
97542	Wheelchair mngment training	Maintain	provisional
97550	Caregiver training; initial 30 min	Addition	provisional
97551	Caregiver training: ea addnl 30 min	Addition	provisional
97552	Group caregiver training	Addition	provisional
97750	Physical performance test	Maintain	provisional
97755	Assistive technology assess	Maintain	provisional
97760	Orthotic mgmt&traing 1st enc	Maintain	provisional
97761	Prosthetic traing 1st enc	Maintain	provisional
97763	Orthc/prostc mgmt sbsq enc	Maintain	provisional
97802	Medical nutrition indiv in	Maintain	permanent
97803	Med nutrition indiv subseq	Maintain	permanent
97804	Medical nutrition group	Maintain	permanent
98960	Self-mgmt educ & train 1 pt	Maintain	provisional
98961	Self-mgmt educ/train 2-4 pt	Maintain	provisional
98962	Self-mgmt educ/train 5-8 pt	Maintain	provisional
98966	Hc pro phone call 5-10 min	Maintain	permanent
98967	Hc pro phone call 11-20 min	Maintain	permanent
98968	Hc pro phone call 21-30 min	Maintain	permanent
99202	Office/outpatient visit new	Maintain	permanent
99203	Office/outpatient visit new	Maintain	permanent
99204	Office/outpatient visit new	Maintain	permanent
99205	Office/outpatient visit new	Maintain	permanent
99211	Office/outpatient visit est	Maintain	permanent
99212	Office/outpatient visit est	Maintain	permanent
99213	Office/outpatient visit est	Maintain	permanent
99214	Office/outpatient visit est	Maintain	permanent
99215	Office/outpatient visit est	Maintain	permanent
99221	Initial hospital care	Maintain	provisional
99222	Initial hospital care	Maintain	provisional
99223	Initial hospital care	Maintain	provisional
99231	Subsequent hospital care	Maintain	permanent
99232	Subsequent hospital care	Maintain	permanent
99233	Subsequent hospital care	Maintain	permanent
99234	Observ/hosp same date	Maintain	provisional
99235	Observ/hosp same date	Maintain	provisional
99236	Observ/hosp same date	Maintain	provisional
99238	Hospital discharge day	Maintain	provisional
99239	Hospital discharge day	Maintain	provisional
99281	Emergency dept visit	Maintain	provisional
99282	Emergency dept visit	Maintain	provisional
99283	Emergency dept visit	Maintain	provisional
99284	Emergency dept visit	Maintain	provisional
99285	Emergency dept visit	Maintain	provisional
99291	Critical care first hour	Maintain	provisional
99292	Critical care addl 30 min	Maintain	provisional
99304	Nursing facility care init	Maintain	provisional
99305	Nursing facility care init	Maintain	provisional
99306	Nursing facility care init	Maintain	provisional
99307	Nursing fac care subseq	Maintain	permanent
99308	Nursing fac care subseq	Maintain	permanent
99309	Nursing fac care subseq	Maintain	permanent
99310	Nursing fac care subseq	Maintain	permanent
99315	Nursing fac discharge day	Maintain	provisional
99316	Nursing fac discharge day	Maintain	provisional
99341	Home visit new patient	Maintain	provisional
99342	Home visit new patient	Maintain	provisional
99344	Home visit new patient	Maintain	provisional
99345	Home visit new patient	Maintain	provisional
99347	Home visit est patient	Maintain	permanent
99348	Home visit est patient	Maintain	permanent
99349	Home visit est patient	Maintain	provisional
99350	Home visit est patient	Maintain	provisional
99406	Behav chng smoking 3-10 min	Maintain	permanent
99407	Behav chng smoking > 10 min	Maintain	permanent
99441	Phone e/m phys/qhp 5-10 min	Delete	provisional
99442	Phone e/m phys/qhp 11-20 min	Delete	provisional
99443	Phone e/m phys/qhp 21-30 min	Delete	provisional
99468	Neonate crit care initial	Maintain	provisional
99469	Neonate crit care subsq	Maintain	provisional
99471	Ped critical care initial	Maintain	provisional
99472	Ped critical care subsq	Maintain	provisional
99473	Self-meas bp pt educaj/train	Maintain	provisional
99475	Ped crit care age 2-5 init	Maintain	provisional
99476	Ped crit care age 2-5 subsq	Maintain	provisional
99477	Init day hosp neonate care	Maintain	provisional
99478	Ic lbw inf < 1500 gm subsq	Maintain	provisional
99479	Ic lbw inf 1500-2500 g subsq	Maintain	provisional
99480	Ic inf pbw 2501-5000 g subsq	Maintain	provisional
99483	Assmt & care pln pt cog imp	Maintain	permanent
99495	Trans care mgmt 14 day disch	Maintain	permanent
99496	Trans care mgmt 7 day disch	Maintain	permanent
99497	Advncd care plan 30 min	Maintain	permanent
99498	Advncd care plan addl 30 min	Maintain	permanent
G0108	Diab manage trnper indiv	Maintain	permanent
G0109	Diab manage trn ind/group	Maintain	permanent
G0011	Ind couns for PrEP by QHP, 15-30 min	Addition	permanent
G0013	Initial or contd couns for PrEP by clinical staff, 30 min	Addition	permanent
G0136	Admin SDOH risk assmt tool, 5-15 min	Maintain	permanent
G0270	Mnt subs tx for change dx	Maintain	permanent
G0296	Visit to determ ldct elig	Maintain	permanent
G0316	Prolonged hospital inpatient or observation care	Maintain	permanent
G0317	Prolonged nursing facility evaluation and management service	Maintain	permanent
G0318	Prolonged home or residence evaluation and management	Maintain	permanent
G0396	Alcohol/subs interv 15-30mn	Maintain	permanent
G0397	Alcohol/subs interv >30 min	Maintain	permanent
G0406	Inpt/tele follow up 15	Maintain	permanent
G0407	Inpt/tele follow up 25	Maintain	permanent
G0408	Inpt/tele follow up 35	Maintain	permanent
G0410	Grp psych partial hosp 45-50	Maintain	provisional
G0420	Ed svc ckd ind per session	Maintain	permanent
G0421	Ed svc ckd grp per session	Maintain	permanent
G0422	Intens cardiac rehab w/exerc	Maintain	provisional
G0423	Intens cardiac rehab no exer	Maintain	provisional
G0425	Inpt/ed teleconsult30	Maintain	permanent
G0426	Inpt/ed teleconsult50	Maintain	permanent
G0427	Inpt/ed teleconsult70	Maintain	permanent
G0438	Ppps, initial visit	Maintain	permanent
G0439	Ppps, subseq visit	Maintain	permanent
G0442	Annual alcohol screen 15 min	Maintain	permanent
G0443	Brief alcohol misuse counsel	Maintain	permanent
G0444	Depression screen annual	Maintain	permanent
G0445	High inten beh couns std 30m	Maintain	permanent
G0446	Intens behave ther cardio dx	Maintain	permanent
G0447	Behavior counsel obesity 15m	Maintain	permanent
G0459	Telehealth inpt pharm mgmt	Maintain	permanent
G0506	Comp asses care plan ccm svc	Maintain	permanent
G0508	Crit care telehea consult 60	Maintain	permanent
G0509	Crit care telehea consult 50	Maintain	permanent
G0513	Prolong prev svcs, first 30m	Maintain	permanent
G0514	Prolong prev svcs, addl 30m	Maintain	permanent
G2086	Off base opioid tx 70min	Maintain	permanent
G2087	Off base opioid tx, 60 m	Maintain	permanent
G2088	Off base opioid tx, add30	Maintain	permanent
G2211	Complex E/M visit add on	Maintain	permanent
G2212	Prolong outpt/office vis	Maintain	permanent
G0248	Home INR monitoring	No Addition	provisional
G3002	Chronic pain tx monthly b	Maintain	permanent
G3003	Addition 15m pain mang	Maintain	permanent
G9685	Acute nursing facility care	Maintain	provisional
G0539	Initial care training 30 mi	Addition	provisional
G0540	train for caregiver add 15	Addition	provisional
G0541	no pt present train, initial 30	Addition	provisional
G0542	Care train to pts face to face 15 m	Addition	provisional
G0543	Group train w/o patient	Addition	provisional
G0560	Safety plan interven	Addition	permanent

https://www.cms.gov/medicare/coverage/telehealth/list-services