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    v1.0.30
    OpenPayerBilling CodesInterprofessional Telephone/Internet/Electronic Health Record ConsultationsCPT cpt-99449-remote-consultation-31-min-plus-telephone-ehr
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    CPT 99449: Remote Consultation via Telephone/Internet/EHR (31+ min)

    Medicare pays $78 on average nationally for this procedure.

    CPT code 99449 describes a consultation by a consulting physician or other qualified healthcare professional delivered via telephone, internet, or electronic health record (EHR) that lasts 31 minutes or more and includes a verbal and written report to the requesting physician or qualified healthcare professional; this is a consultation service typically provided remotely through telehealth or secure electronic communication rather than an in-person visit.

    For related coverage guidance, see recent payer policy updates: Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood Pressure, Cardiology - Ivabradine, Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA).

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    Table of contents

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    Clinical & Coding Specifications

    Clinical Context

    A primary care physician requests a remote consultation from a cardiologist for a complex outpatient case. The patient is a 68-year-old male with a history of ischemic heart disease, new onset exertional dyspnea, and borderline heart failure symptoms. The primary care physician sends records and requests an expert opinion via the EHR messaging system. The consulting cardiologist reviews the chart, diagnostic test results, and prior imaging for more than 31 minutes, discusses findings and recommendations by telephone with the requesting physician, and documents a written consult note and verbal report in the EHR. Typical workflow includes receipt of the consult request, chart and test review, synchronous or asynchronous communication with the requesting clinician, and preparation of a written consult report entered into the medical record for the treating clinician.

    Related CPT Codes

    CPT CodeDescriptionRelationship to This Procedure
    99446Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record consultative service, 5–10 minutes of medical consultative timeShorter-duration interprofessional consults that may be used when the consult requires less time than 99449.
    99447Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record consultative service, 11–20 minutes of medical consultative timeMid-range duration interprofessional consult that precedes or follows more extensive review when less time is needed.
    99448Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record consultative service, 21–30 minutes of medical consultative timeUsed for consults of intermediate duration; 99449 is billed when consultative time reaches 31 minutes or more.
    99451Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record referral service provided by a consultative physician, 5 or more minutes, written report onlyWhen only a written report is provided without a verbal report to the requesting clinician; differs from 99449 which requires both verbal and written report.
    99452Interprofessional telephone/Internet/electronic health record referral service provided by treating/requesting physician or other qualified health care professional, 30 minutesTime spent by the requesting physician in coordination; often billed by the originating clinician in the consult workflow.

    Related Modifiers

    10 rows

    ModifierDescriptionWhen to Use
    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…
    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.,…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…
    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…

    Related Provider Taxonomies

    8 rows

    Taxonomy Code
    207RC0000X
    208D00000X
    207K00000X
    2084P0800X
    174400000X
    207XX0005X
    163WC0200X
    320600000X

    Related ICD-10-CM Codes

    27 rows

    ICD-10-CM CodeDescription
    A41.9Sepsis, unspecified organism
    B20Human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] disease
    E11.9Type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications
    E66.9Obesity, unspecified
    E78.5Hyperlipidemia, unspecified
    F32.9Major depressive disorder, single episode, unspecified
    F41.9Anxiety disorder, unspecified
    G43.909Migraine, unspecified, not intractable, without status migrainosus
    G47.00Insomnia, unspecified
    H52.4Presbyopia

    Showing 1–10 of 27

    Related Payer Policy Updates

    Specialty: Cardiology1 / 3

    10 rows

    PolicyPayerEffective Date
    Automated Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring for Diagnosis of Hypertension in Patients with Elevated Office Blood PressureBluecross Idaho2026-11-01
    Cardiology - IvabradineCigna2026-10-15
    Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT)/Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography (CCTA)univerahealthcare2026-10-15
    Percutaneous Ventricular Assist DeviceUnitedHealthcare2026-10-01
    Cardiovascular Disease Risk AssessmentOscar Health2026-10-01
    Biomarkers for Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Heart FailureOscar Health2026-10-01
    Multiple Procedure Payment Reduction for Diagnostic Cardiovascular ProceduresBlue Cross Blue Shield - Maine2026-10-01
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesexcellus_health_plan_inc2026-09-17
    Left Atrial Appendage Closure Devicesuniverahealthcare2026-09-17
    Cardiac Omnibus CodesCigna2026-09-15

    Related Codes

    CPT-99446-REMOTE-TELEPHONE-INTERNET-EHR-CONSULT-5-10-MIN

    CPT 99446: Brief Interprofessional Telephone/Internet/EHR Consultation

    CPT-99447-REMOTE-INTERPROFESSIONAL-CONSULT-11-20-MINUTES

    CPT 99447: Telephone/Internet/EHR Consult, 11–20 Minutes

    CPT-99448-REMOTE-INTERPROFESSIONAL-CONSULT-21-30-MINUTES

    CPT 99448: 21–30 Minute Telephonic or Virtual Consultation

    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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