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    OpenPayerBilling CodesAcupuncture ProceduresCPT cpt-98003-telemedicine-new-patient-evaluation-high-complexity-60min
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    CPT 98003: New Patient Telehealth E/M, High Complexity, 60+ Minutes

    CPT code 98003 describes a new patient evaluation and management visit delivered via synchronous audio–video telehealth, characterized by high medical decision making and/or 60 or more minutes of total provider time on a single date; the service type is a telehealth new patient E/M visit and the typical site of service is remote/telemedicine (patient location variable, clinician remote).

    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 56-year-old patient with multiple chronic conditions (diabetes mellitus type 2, congestive heart failure, and recent worsening dyspnea) requests an initial specialty evaluation via a synchronous audio–video telehealth visit. The provider is a board-certified cardiologist who conducts a comprehensive new-patient evaluation using secure video conferencing. The encounter involves high medical decision making due to complex comorbidity review, medication reconciliation, ordering of urgent diagnostic testing (BNP, chest x-ray, and echocardiography), and coordination of care with the primary care physician and home health. The provider spends a total of 60 minutes on the single date of service, including pre-visit chart review, the real-time video visit, and post-visit documentation and care coordination.

    Workflow steps:

    • The patient schedules a new-patient telehealth appointment and completes intake forms and home blood pressure and weight entries in the portal.

    • The provider performs a pre-visit review of prior records and diagnostics (30 minutes), then conducts the synchronous audio–video exam (20 minutes) with focused history, review of systems, and visual assessment of jugular venous distension and edema, followed by real-time shared decision-making regarding urgent testing.

    • Post-visit, the provider documents findings, places orders for imaging and labs, completes medication changes, and communicates a care plan to the referring clinician (10 minutes).

    Typical site of service: outpatient telehealth (synchronous audio–video) delivered to the patient at home or other non-facility setting.

    Service type: new patient evaluation and management via synchronous audiovisual telehealth with high medical decision making and total encounter time of 60 minutes or more on a single date of service.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99204Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient, typically 45–59 minutes of total time, or moderate to high complexity MDMAlternative in-person new-patient E/M code for substantial visits; may be billed when visit is in-person rather than telehealth and time/MDM levels match.
    99205Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of a new patient, typically 60–74 minutes of total time, or high complexity MDMIn-person new-patient E/M equivalent for visits with high MDM and prolonged total time; relates to 98003 as the in-person counterpart.
    99454Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, for device(s) that collect and transmit physiologic dataOften ordered following a telehealth evaluation for ongoing monitoring (e.g., remote weight or BP monitoring for heart failure).
    93000Electrocardiogram, routine ECG with at least 12 leads; tracing and interpretationCommon diagnostic test ordered after telehealth cardiac evaluations to assess arrhythmias or ischemia.

    Related Modifiers

    10 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.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    62Modifier 62 indicates that two surgeons function as co‑surgeons, each performing distinct parts of the same primary surgical procedure. It is appended to the primary procedure code (and any…- Use modifier -62 when two surgeons act as co‑surgeons (both primary surgeons) on a single definitive primary procedure, each performing distinct parts of the same surgical procedure (append -62 to…
    78CPT modifier -78 indicates an unplanned, related return to the operating or procedure room by the same provider during the global postoperative period. It is appended when treatment for a…- Use modifier -78 when an unplanned, related complication during the original procedure’s global postoperative period requires the patient to return to a formal operating or procedure room and the…
    80CPT® Modifier 80 (Assistant Surgeon) is appended to a surgical CPT code when a physician (MD or DO) provides full, continuous assistance throughout the operative procedure. It is intended only for…- Use CPT Modifier -80 when a physician (MD or DO) serves as an assistant surgeon and provides full, continuous assistance throughout the entire operative procedure; append -80 to the surgical CPT…
    82Modifier 82 is appended to a surgical CPT code to indicate that an attending physician acted as an assistant because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable. In teaching hospitals it documents…- When to use: Append modifier 82 in teaching-hospital settings to indicate a physician served as an assistant surgeon because a qualified resident surgeon was unavailable (includes situations where…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    208D00000X
    208000000X
    207RH0000X
    363L00000X
    163WP0218X
    225XH1200X
    246QL0900X

    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-98002-NEW-PATIENT-TELEHEALTH-EVALUATION-MODERATE-COMPLEXITY

    CPT 98002: New Patient Telehealth E/M, Moderate Complexity

    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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    93306Echocardiography, transthoracic, real-time with image documentation (complete)Frequently ordered after a high complexity cardiology telehealth visit to evaluate cardiac structure and function.
    99457Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, physician/other qualified health care professional time in a calendar monthUsed for ongoing management following the initial telehealth encounter when monitoring and remote management are required.