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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAcupuncture ProceduresCPT cpt-98002-new-patient-telehealth-evaluation-moderate-complexity
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    CPT 98002: New Patient Telehealth E/M, Moderate Complexity

    CPT code 98002 describes a new patient evaluation and management visit conducted via synchronous audio–video telehealth, involving moderate medical decision making and/or 45 or more minutes of total provider time on a single date; the service type is a telemedicine/telehealth new patient E/M visit and the typical site of service is an outpatient or ambulatory setting delivered remotely using live audio–video technology.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Pediatric Neurodevelopmental and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening Corporate Medical Policy, Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for New Mexico Only), Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for North Carolina Only).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A typical patient presenting for 98002 is a new patient requiring a comprehensive synchronous audio–video evaluation conducted remotely. Example: a 58-year-old patient with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes and progressive shortness of breath requests a telemedicine intake because of mobility limitations and transportation barriers. The clinician obtains a focused history, reviews prior records, reviews current medications, performs visual inspection via video (skin, breathing effort), and coordinates remote vitals reported by the patient (home glucometer, pulse oximeter). The visit includes moderate medical decision making and requires at least 45 minutes of total provider time on the date of service for evaluation, documentation, coordination with specialists, and ordering of diagnostics (laboratory tests, chest radiograph arranged at a local facility).

    Workflow steps:

    • Initial patient contact and consent for video visit.

    • Pre-visit record retrieval and review of prior notes and recent labs.

    • Synchronous audio–video encounter: comprehensive history, review of systems, visual exam components, assessment and moderate-complexity decision making.

    • Ordering tests and medications, electronic prescriptions, and care coordination (referrals, scheduling imaging).

    • Documentation of total time spent on the encounter on the same date to support 98002 billing.

    Typical site of service: synchronous telemedicine (video) delivered to the patient in a non-facility or facility location (patient home, nursing facility) when the provider is remote.

    Service type: New patient telehealth evaluation and management via synchronous audio–video technology, moderate complexity, 45+ minutes total provider time on the date of service.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99205Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient, moderate to high complexity, typically 60–74 minutesIn-person counterpart for a comprehensive new patient evaluation with high time; used when patient is seen face-to-face rather than via telemedicine

    | 99204 | Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient, moderate complexity, typically 45–59 minutes | In-person E/M code similar in content and time to 98002 when the encounter occurs face-to-face

    | 99441 | Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician or other qualified health care professional; 5–10 minutes of medical discussion | Related remote communication code for problem-focused audio-only visits that are shorter than 98002

    | 99421 | Online digital evaluation and management service, for an established patient, cumulative time over 7 days | Related asynchronous digital E/M option; not a direct substitute but used in remote care workflows

    | 99091 | Collection and interpretation of physiologic data by a physician or other qualified health care professional | Often used adjunctively when remote monitoring data (glucose, pulse oximetry) are reviewed as part of the telehealth evaluation

    Related Modifiers

    8 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    95Modifier 95 indicates that a service was provided via synchronous, real‑time audio‑video telehealth rather than in‑person. Per CMS, AAPC and professional associations, append modifier 95 to claim…- Use modifier 95 to indicate a service was furnished via synchronous, real‑time audiovisual telehealth (a live audio‑video conference between patient and provider) rather than in‑person. - Pair…
    25CPT modifier 25 indicates that on the same day as another procedure or service, the same physician or other qualified health care professional provided a significant, separately identifiable…- When to apply: Use modifier 25 only on an E/M code to indicate the same provider delivered a significant, separately identifiable E/M service on the same day as another procedure or service — i.e.,…
    23Modifier -23 (Unusual Anesthesia) is used on anesthesia service CPT codes when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia…- Use modifier -23 only on anesthesia CPT codes (00100–01999) when a procedure that normally requires no anesthesia or only local anesthesia must be performed under general anesthesia because of…
    22Modifier –22 (Increased Procedural Services) is used when a reported procedure is substantially more extensive than normally required. The CPT Manual and CMS state it may be appended only when the…- When to use: Append modifier -22 to a procedural CPT code when the service performed is substantially more extensive than the usual service described by that code — i.e., the procedure required…
    52Modifier ‑52 (Reduced Services) indicates that a service or procedure was partially reduced or omitted at the provider’s discretion, allowing reporting of the basic procedure number with a qualifier…- Use modifier -52 when a physician or qualified health professional electively reduces or omits part of a procedure or service (for example, performing fewer required views or omitting a portion of…
    53Modifier 53 (Discontinued Procedure) signals that a surgical or diagnostic service was begun by the physician but terminated because of extenuating circumstances that threatened the patient’s…- Use modifier -53 when a physician/qualified healthcare professional has started a surgical or diagnostic procedure (e.g., anesthesia administered, incision or scope insertion) and then discontinues…
    93Modifier 93 denotes that a billed service was delivered synchronously via audio-only telecommunications (real-time telephone or other audio-only system). The AMA added modifier 93 in CPT Appendix A…- When to use: Apply modifier -93 when a synchronous, real-time, two-way patient–provider encounter is conducted entirely via audio-only (telephone or other real-time interactive audio-only…
    33Modifier 33 was created by the American Medical Association in response to the Affordable Care Act to identify services provided for preventive intent. It is appended to CPT/HCPCS codes that could be…- Use modifier -33 when a CPT/HCPCS service that can be billed as either preventive or diagnostic/treatment is provided with preventive intent and aligns with USPSTF A or B recommendations or other…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    163W00000X
    207Q00000X
    207R00000X
    208000000X
    363L00000X
    246Q00000X
    208800000X
    1223P0300X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    E78.5Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F33.1Major depressive disorder, recurrent, moderate
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    G43.909Migraine, unspecified, not intractable, without status migrainosus
    G47.33Obstructive sleep apnea (adult) (pediatric)
    H52.13Myopia, bilateral
    H81.13Benign paroxysmal vertigo, bilateral

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Pediatrics/Neonatology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Pediatric Neurodevelopmental and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Screening Corporate Medical Policybcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for New Mexico Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for North Carolina Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for Pennsylvania Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Inhaled Nitric Oxide Therapy (for Kentucky Only)UnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Clinical Policy: NICU Apnea Bradycardia GuidelinesAmbetter Nevada2026-10-01
    DRG Newborn Inpatient Stays - FacilityBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Pediatric Preventive ScreeningOscar Health2026-10-01
    Infant Nutritional FormulaCigna2026-09-15
    Pediatric Preventive ScreeningBlue Cross Blue Shield - New Mexico2026-09-04

    Related Codes

    CPT-97810-ACUPUNCTURE-INITIAL-15-MINUTE-TREATMENT

    CPT 97810: Acupuncture, Initial 15-Minute Needling

    CPT-97811-ACUPUNCTURE-ADDITIONAL-15-MINUTE-CONTINUATION

    CPT 97811: Acupuncture, Each Additional 15 Minutes

    CPT-97813-ELECTROACUPUNCTURE-INITIAL-15-MINUTE-TREATMENT

    CPT 97813: Electroacupuncture, 15-Minute Initial Treatment

    CPT-97814-ACUPUNCTURE-ELECTRICAL-STIMULATION-ADDITIONAL-15-MIN

    CPT 97814: Acupuncture with Electrical Stimulation, Additional 15 Minutes

    CPT-98003-TELEMEDICINE-NEW-PATIENT-EVALUATION-HIGH-COMPLEXITY-60MIN

    CPT 98003: New Patient Telehealth E/M, High Complexity, 60+ Minutes

    CPT-98005-ESTABLISHED-PATIENT-TELEHEALTH-EVALUATION-20-MINUTES

    CPT 98005: Established Patient Telehealth E/M, Low MDM, ≥20 Minutes

    CPT-98008-NEW-PATIENT-AUDIO-ONLY-EVALUATION-AND-MANAGEMENT

    CPT 98008: New Patient Audio-Only Evaluation and Management

    CPT-98016-VIRTUAL-BRIEF-EVALUATION-ESTABLISHED-PATIENT

    CPT 98016: Virtual Check‑in for Established Patient, 5–10 Minutes

    Frequently Asked Questions

    References

    1. 1.CPT® Codes and Descriptions. AAPC. Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.Maintains the CPT code set's official descriptions and guidelines, licensed from the American Medical Association, used as the definitional source for CPT codes on this page.
    2. 2.HCPCS Quarterly Update. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's quarterly release of HCPCS Level II codes and short/long descriptors, the source for HCPCS code definitions and update history.
    3. 3.ICD-10-CM Full Code List. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Retrieved Aug 11, 2026.CMS's complete ICD-10-CM diagnosis code list, used to cross-reference diagnosis codes associated with this procedure or service.
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    | 99457 | Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, 20 minutes or more of clinical staff/physician/other qualified healthcare professional time in a calendar month | May be used in the continuum of care when ongoing remote monitoring is initiated following the 98002 initial telehealth evaluation