Summary & Overview
CPT 99448: Remote Interprofessional Consultation, 21–30 Minutes
CPT code 99448 designates a remote interprofessional consultation in which a consulting physician or other qualified healthcare professional spends 21–30 minutes via telephone, internet, or EHR and provides both verbal and written reports to the requesting clinician. This code captures time-based expert input that complements the care delivered by the primary provider and supports care coordination without a face-to-face patient encounter. Nationally, the code is relevant as telehealth and interprofessional consultation services expand across settings and payers.
Key payers covered in this analysis include Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Medicare. Readers will find a concise overview of billing context, common modifiers, and implementation considerations for this remote consult service. The publication summarizes typical sites of service, the clinical role of the consulting clinician, and the time and documentation expectations tied to the code. It also outlines areas where policy updates and payer-specific rules commonly affect reimbursement and claims processing. Data not available in the input will be noted where applicable.
Billing Code Overview
CPT code 99448 describes a consultation provided remotely by a consulting physician or other qualified healthcare professional. The service is a synchronous or interactive consult conducted via telephone, internet, or electronic health record (EHR) that lasts 21–30 minutes, with a verbal and written report provided to the requesting physician or qualified healthcare professional.
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Service type: Remote consultation / interprofessional consult
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Typical site of service: Provided remotely; the consulting clinician can be located off-site while the requesting clinician is in any clinical setting. Data not available in the input.
Clinical & Coding Specifications
Clinical Context
A consulting cardiologist receives a request from a primary care physician for an urgent remote consult about an adult patient with new onset atrial fibrillation and symptomatic palpitations. The consulting physician reviews the patient’s electronic health record, recent ECG report, medication list, and laboratory results, then conducts a 25‑minute telephone discussion with the requesting physician to clarify history, review options for rate versus rhythm control, and recommend next steps. The consultant documents a written report in the EHR and provides a verbal summary to the requesting physician. Typical workflow: the requesting clinician sends a consult request via the EHR or calls the consultant; the consultant reviews records (including ECG and labs), performs the 21–30 minute consult by telephone or secure video, documents a written consult note in the EHR, and communicates recommendations verbally and in writing to the requesting clinician for follow-up and implementation.
Coding Specifications
| Modifier | Description | When to Use |
|---|---|---|
25 | Significant, separately identifiable evaluation and management (E/M) service by the same physician on the same day | When the consulting physician performs a separate E/M service for the same patient on the same day as the consult and documentation supports a distinct service |
59 |