Summary & Overview
CPT 99446: Remote 5–10 Minute Telephone/Internet/EHR Consultation
CPT code 99446 covers a short, remote consultation—five to 10 minutes—delivered by a consulting physician or qualified healthcare professional via telephone, internet, or EHR, with both verbal and written reporting to the requesting clinician. Nationally, this code matters as telehealth and electronic consults expand care team communication, reduce unnecessary in-person visits, and support timely specialist input across clinical settings.
Key payers in this overview include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise explanation of the service definition and clinical context, plus what to expect in benchmarking and policy coverage trends for teleconsultation services. The publication summarizes typical billing scenarios for short interprofessional consults, common modifiers and implementation considerations, and links between this consult type and broader telehealth policy developments.
The piece provides actionable reference material for billing administrators, compliance teams, and clinicians seeking clarity on when 99446 applies, how remote consults are documented, and where to look for payer-specific coverage guidance. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 99446 describes a consultation provided by a consulting physician or other qualified healthcare professional delivered remotely. The service is a five- to 10-minute consult conducted via telephone, internet, or electronic health record (EHR) communication channels, with the consultant providing both a verbal and written report to the requesting physician or qualified healthcare professional.
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Service type: Remote/teleconsultation consultation
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Typical site of service: Performed remotely; initiated from the consultant's professional location and intended to inform care at the requesting clinician's site of care
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Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A primary care physician caring for an adult patient with a new complex medication question (for example, anticoagulation management after a transient ischemic attack) requests an interprofessional electronic consultation with a cardiology or neurology consultant via the EHR. The consultant reviews the electronic medical record, relevant lab results and imaging, and conducts a focused 5–10 minute telephone or secure messaging discussion with the requesting clinician. The consultant documents a concise verbal and written report in the medical record addressing diagnosis, recommended management, medication adjustments, and need for face-to-face referral. The requesting clinician receives the report and implements recommendations or schedules in-person follow-up as needed. Typical sites of service include outpatient clinics, physician offices, and inpatient units where clinicians use phone, internet portal, or EHR-based consult mechanisms to obtain specialist input without direct patient contact.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
95 | Synchronous telemedicine service rendered via real-time interactive audio and video telecommunications system | Use when the consult is performed via live audio-video connection and payer requires this modifier for telehealth claims |
GT |