Avoid Denials and Maximize Reimbursement With Expert Telehealth Coding.
Telehealth CPT codes for 2026 demonstrate how virtual treatment has become a standard aspect of professional practice. The 2026 telehealth CPT codes set expands on the 2025 modifications by retaining the new telehealth-specific codes while also broadening how technologies such as remote monitoring, wearables, and AI-driven diagnostics may be reported.
These updates help practices bill more accurately and capture reimbursement for services once outside traditional in‑office E/M coding. Adopting the 2026 codes supports compliance, reduces claim errors, and aligns with innovations in digital health. Staying current is essential for coders, billers, and clinicians who deliver care virtually or through hybrid models.
In 2025, the AMA created a dedicated set of telehealth Evaluation and Management (E/M) CPT codes to replace older modifiers and telephone codes. The new codes apply to audio-video and audio-only telehealth appointments for both new and established patients, and contain a brief virtual check-in code.
The changes were designed so that telehealth billing could follow the same logic as in‑person visits based on medical decision-making or total time, with defined minimum times for each level. Because these codes describe the mode of service delivery in their descriptors, modifiers such as 95 were no longer required. Its restructure allowed practices to report telehealth more precisely and consistently than before, especially when audio‑only encounters were involved.
Key elements of the 2025 telehealth codes included:
Related: You Must Know These Remote Patient Monitoring CPT Codes in 2025
The 2026 CPT update doesn’t change the core telehealth visit codes introduced in 2025, but it adds many more codes that relate to digital health services beyond traditional telehealth E/M visits. The AMA said nearly 300 new CPT codes, are added in 2026 reflecting growing clinical use of connected technologies like remote patient monitoring and AI diagnostic tools. These additions help providers report services that involve short‑duration monitoring, sensor data review, and advanced analytics that support patient care outside the clinic.
The most important developments in the 2026 telemedicine CPT code set include:
Importantly, these additions do not replace the 98000-series telehealth E/M codes. Instead, they complement them by covering services that occur before, after, or alongside virtual visits.
Below is the complete 2026 telehealth CPT codes table for the core telehealth visit codes (audio‑video, audio‑only, and brief communication) introduced in 2026.
2026 Telehealth CPT Codes | |
Code | Telehealth Use |
0362T | Behavioral identification support assessment (15 min) |
0373T | Adaptive behavior treatment (15 min) |
0591T | Individual health and well-being coaching (initial) |
0592T | Individual health and well-being coaching (follow-up) |
0593T | Group health and well-being coaching |
77427 | Radiation treatment management |
90785 | Interactive complexity psychotherapy |
90791 | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation |
90792 | Psychiatric diagnostic evaluation with medication |
90832 | Psychotherapy, 30 minutes |
90833 | Psychotherapy with E/M, 30 minutes |
90834 | Psychotherapy, 45 minutes |
90836 | Psychotherapy with E/M, 45 minutes |
90837 | Psychotherapy, 60 minutes |
90838 | Psychotherapy with E/M, 60 minutes |
90839 | Psychotherapy for crisis, first 60 minutes |
90840 | Psychotherapy for crisis, each additional 30 minutes |
90845 | Psychoanalysis |
90846 | Family psychotherapy without patient |
90847 | Family psychotherapy with patient |
90849 | Multiple-family group psychotherapy |
90853 | Group psychotherapy |
90901 | Biofeedback training |
92002 | Eye exam, new patient |
92004 | Comprehensive eye exam, new patient |
92012 | Eye exam, established patient |
92014 | Eye exam and treatment, established patient |
92507 | Speech-language therapy |
92521 | Evaluation of speech fluency |
92522 | Speech sound production evaluation |
92523 | Speech and language evaluation |
92610 | Swallowing function evaluation |
92625 | Tinnitus assessment |
93797 | Cardiac rehabilitation |
93798 | Cardiac rehabilitation with monitoring |
94005 | Home ventilator management supervision |
94664 | Inhaler technique evaluation |
96110 | Developmental screening |
96127 | Brief emotional or behavioral assessment |
96156 | Health behavior assessment |
96158 | Health behavior intervention, individual |
96164 | Health behavior intervention, group |
97110 | Therapeutic exercises |
97112 | Neuromuscular reeducation |
97116 | Gait training therapy |
97150 | Group therapeutic procedures |
97161 | Physical therapy evaluation, low complexity |
97162 | Physical therapy evaluation, moderate complexity |
97163 | Physical therapy evaluation, high complexity |
97530 | Therapeutic activities |
97535 | Self-care management training |
97802 | Medical nutrition therapy, initial |
97803 | Medical nutrition therapy, follow-up |
97804 | Group medical nutrition therapy |
98966 | Phone assessment, 5–10 minutes |
98967 | Phone assessment, 11–20 minutes |
98968 | Phone assessment, 21–30 minutes |
99202–99205 | Office/outpatient visit, new patient |
99211–99215 | Office/outpatient visit, established patient |
99221–99223 | Initial hospital care |
99231–99233 | Subsequent hospital care |
99234–99236 | Observation or inpatient same-day care |
99238–99239 | Hospital discharge services |
99281–99285 | Emergency department visits |
99341–99345 | Home visit, new patient |
99347–99350 | Home visit, established patient |
99406 | Smoking cessation counseling |
99483 | Cognitive impairment care planning |
99495 | Transitional care management (14 days) |
99496 | Transitional care management (7 days) |
99497 | Advance care planning |
G0108 | Diabetes self-management training (individual) |
G0109 | Diabetes self-management training (group) |
G0406 | Inpatient telehealth follow-up (15 min) |
G0407 | Inpatient telehealth follow-up (25 min) |
G0408 | Inpatient telehealth follow-up (35 min) |
G0425 | Inpatient/ED teleconsultation (30 min) |
G0426 | Inpatient/ED teleconsultation (50 min) |
G0427 | Inpatient/ED teleconsultation (70 min) |
G0444 | Annual depression screening |
G0459 | Telehealth inpatient pharmacy management |
G0473 | Group behavioral counseling |
G0508 | Critical care telehealth consultation (60 min) |
G0509 | Critical care telehealth consultation (50 min) |
G2211 | Complex E/M visit add-on |
G3002 | Monthly chronic pain management |
G3003 | Additional chronic pain management time |
G0560 | Safety planning intervention |
While CPT codes are developed by the AMA, coverage and payment rules are set by payers. Providers must understand how Medicare and commercial plans may differ when applying telehealth CPT codes.
Because of this variation, practices should always verify payer-specific telehealth policies before submitting claims.
Correct Place of Service coding is essential for telehealth claims.
The common Telehealth POS Codes includes,
Using the wrong POS can result in underpayment or claim denial, even when the CPT code itself is correct. The documentation should clearly show where the patient was at the time of the contact.
For the dedicated telehealth CPT codes introduced in 2025 and continued in 2026, modifiers such as 95 are generally not required, because telehealth delivery is already described in the code.
However, modifiers may still be needed when:
Billing teams should always follow payer-specific guidance rather than assuming modifiers are unnecessary.
Proper documentation is critical for compliant telehealth billing and reimbursement. Strong, accurate records not only support the services billed but also protect providers during audits or claim denials. For 2026 telehealth services, documentation should comprehensively capture the following elements:
Proper documentation is critical for compliant telehealth billing and reimbursement. Strong, accurate records not only support the services billed but also protect providers during audits or claim denials. For 2026 telehealth services, documentation should comprehensively capture the following elements:
Document that the patient was informed about the telehealth encounter and provided consent. This includes explaining:
Electronic consent or verbal consent (properly noted in the chart) is generally acceptable, but it must be clearly documented.
Record the patient’s and provider’s locations during the telehealth visit. Some payers, notably Medicare, require this information to establish coverage eligibility and rate of reimbursement. Documentation should specify city, state, and whether the patient is in an approved telehealth site (home, rural clinic, etc.), if applicable.
If the visit is billed using time-based CPT codes, document the exact total time spent on the encounter, including:
Accurate time documentation ensures proper code selection, particularly for behavioral health or complex evaluation and management (E/M) services.
Include details of the medical decision-making (MDM) performed during the visit. This may include:
Detailed MDM documentation justifies the level of service billed and demonstrates clinical necessity.
When relevant to the code, note the specific telehealth technology or platform used (e.g., HIPAA-compliant video conferencing software, remote monitoring devices, or digital health tools). Some CPT codes for remote monitoring or virtual care management require documentation of the device or software used to capture data.
By carefully documenting these elements, providers can ensure compliance with 2026 telehealth coding guidelines, improve reimbursement accuracy, and maintain high standards of patient care.
The 2026 telehealth CPT codes updates build on the foundational changes made in 2025. The 98000‑series continues to define how synchronous virtual visits are reported. At the same time, the 2026 code set adds many more options for modern digital health services like short‑duration remote monitoring and AI support.
By understanding and implementing these codes correctly, providers can improve billing accuracy, support telehealth billing code compliance, and capture appropriate reimbursement for both traditional and technology‑enabled care. Staying up to date with CPT releases and payer policies will help practices deliver virtual care with confidence and clarity.
Yes, telehealth CPT code usage varies by payer. The AMA creates CPT codes, but Medicare and commercial insurers decide how they apply them. Medicare follows a specific telehealth services list, while commercial payers may use state laws or contract rules. A payer may cover a telehealth code differently or not at all. Practices should review each payer’s telehealth policy before billing to avoid denials and payment delays.
Providers can bill audio-only telehealth services, but coverage depends on the payer and the CPT code. Medicare allows audio-only billing for certain services when clinical circumstances justify it. Commercial payers may allow, limit, or exclude audio-only visits based on policy or contract terms. Providers must document why audio-video was not used and confirm payer rules before submitting claims to ensure reimbursement.
Modifier 95 is usually not required for telehealth-specific CPT codes introduced in 2025 and continued in 2026. These codes already describe telehealth delivery in their descriptors. However, some commercial payers still require modifier 95, especially when billing non-telehealth-specific CPT codes. Billing teams should follow payer-specific guidance rather than applying modifier 95 automatically to every telehealth claim.
Providers choose CPT codes based on the service delivered and payer acceptance. Dedicated telehealth CPT codes clearly describe virtual visits and reduce modifier use. Some payers still allow traditional office visit codes for telehealth encounters. Providers must review payer policies to determine which code set is appropriate and ensure documentation supports the selected code to avoid claim rejections.
Providers should generally bill one primary telehealth CPT code per encounter. The code should represent the main service provided during the visit. They do not bill multiple telehealth E/M codes for the same encounter. If additional, distinct services occur, documentation must clearly support them and payer rules must allow separate billing. Incorrect multiple coding often results in denials or audits.
We help providers apply the latest telehealth CPT codes correctly so you get paid faster and stay compliant.
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