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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesAcupuncture ProceduresCPT cpt-98016-virtual-brief-evaluation-established-patient
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    CPT 98016: Virtual Check‑in for Established Patient, 5–10 Minutes

    Medicare pays $18 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 98016 describes a communication technology–based service in which a physician or other qualified healthcare provider spends five to 10 minutes discussing a medical concern with an established patient; service type: brief virtual check‑in or synchronous/asynchronous telehealth communication; typical site of service: provided remotely via telephone or other secure communication technology rather than an in‑person office visit.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders, Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policy, Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal Incontinence.

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    An established adult patient calls or initiates a secure patient portal message regarding a recent change in chronic condition symptoms (for example, increased shortness of breath in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or new onset chest discomfort in stable coronary artery disease). The patient has been previously evaluated in person by the treating clinician. The clinician reviews the chart, recent vitals or pulse oximeter readings provided by the patient, and the patient’s message or brief telephone report, then conducts a synchronous or asynchronous virtual check‑in lasting between five and ten minutes to determine whether an in‑person visit, urgent testing, medication adjustment, or reassurance is indicated. Documentation includes the reason for the contact, time spent, medical decision making focused on the concern, and any care plan or follow‑up instructions. Typical workflow: triage staff or portal flags the message; the clinician reviews prior records; clinician performs the brief communication via telephone or secure video/chat; documents time and clinical assessment; bills 98016 if criteria are met and the patient is established.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99441Telephone evaluation and management service by a physician or other qualified healthcare professional, 5-10 minutes of medical discussionAlternative for brief telephone E/M when payer requires 99441 series instead of 98016; covers similar time-based virtual communication
    99442Telephone E/M, 11-20 minutes of medical discussionFollow-up code for longer telephone encounters that exceed the five‑ to ten‑minute window
    99443Telephone E/M, 21-30 minutes of medical discussionUsed when the conversation extends well beyond a brief check‑in and requires additional decision making
    99421Online digital E/M, 5-10 minutes cumulative over 7 daysFor asynchronous online portal management that may be billed when cumulative time meets code requirements
    99091Collection and interpretation of physiologic data digitally stored and/or transmitted by the patient to the physicianRelated when patient-supplied remote monitoring data (e.g., home pulse oximetry) are reviewed as part of the virtual check‑in
    99457Remote physiologic monitoring treatment management services, 20 minutes or more of clinical staff/physician/other qualified health care professional time in a calendar monthAdjunct when remote monitoring is part of ongoing management following the virtual check‑in

    Related Modifiers

    9 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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.,…
    26Modifier 26 (Professional Component) identifies and bills only the professional portion of a split service — the physician’s interpretation, report, and medical judgment — when the technical…- Use CPT Modifier -26 when you are billing only the professional component (PC) of a split‑bill eligible service—i.e., you performed the physician interpretation, medical judgment and prepared a…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    24Modifier 24 denotes an unrelated evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or qualified healthcare professional during a postoperative global period. Per CPT guidance,…- Use modifier 24 when you report an evaluation and management (E/M) service performed by the same physician or same-specialty group during a procedure’s postoperative global period that is unrelated…
    57CPT® modifier -57 (“Decision for Surgery”) is appended to an Evaluation and Management (E/M) service when that encounter results in the initial decision to perform a major surgery (a procedure with a…- Use modifier 57 when an E/M service provided by the same provider (or same tax ID) on the day of or the day before a major surgical procedure (90‑day global period) results in the initial decision…
    59Modifier 59 indicates a distinct procedural service when two procedures that are not normally billed together are clinically and procedurally separate. The CPT definition (as reiterated by CMS)…- Use modifier -59 to report a distinct procedural service when documentation supports that the procedure reported is not normally billed together with another service on the same day because of a…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207Q00000X
    207R00000X
    207T00000X
    364S00000X
    390200000X
    2083P0901X
    174N00000X
    281P00000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    24 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E78.5Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    H10.9Unspecified conjunctivitis
    H52.4Presbyopia
    J00Acute nasopharyngitis [common cold]
    J02.9Acute pharyngitis, unspecified
    J06.9Acute upper respiratory infection, unspecified
    J20.9Acute bronchitis, unspecified

    Showing 1–10 of 24

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Gastroenterology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Field Stimulation for Functional Abdominal Pain Disordersbcbsvermont2026-12-01
    Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) Coverage Policyevicore2026-11-05
    Radiofrequency Therapy for Fecal IncontinenceCigna2026-10-15
    Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for the Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    High-Resolution Anoscopy (HRA)Premera Bluecross2026-10-01
    Gastroesophageal and Gastrointestinal (GI) Services and ProceduresColorado Rocky Mountain Health Plans2026-10-01
    Serum Testing for Hepatic Fibrosis in the Evaluation and Monitoring of Chronic Liver DiseaseOscar Health2026-10-01
    Fecal Analysis in the Diagnosis of Intestinal Dysbiosis and Fecal Microbiota Transplant TestingOscar Health2026-10-01
    Pancreatic Enzyme Testing for Acute PancreatitisOscar Health2026-10-01
    Helicobacter pylori TestingOscar Health2026-10-01

    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-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

    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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