Association of Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurses

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Audio-Only Telehealth Reimbursement

Road map with a route drawn out in pen.
With this online tool, you can find a roadmap for navigating reimbursement for audio-only telehealth in Washington State under SB 5036 Audio-Only Telemedicine – Reimbursement Conditions, effective July 23, 2023.

Step 1: Documented Consent

As outlined in SB 5036, if a provider intends to bill a patient or the patient’s health plan for an audio-only telemedicine service, the provider must obtain patient consent for the billing in advance of the service being delivered.

Please note, if an audio-visual telehealth visit ceases to be operational, it is too late to obtain consent for audio only because the service is already in the process of being delivered. Obtaining consent in the middle of the visit–because of technical problems, for example–might not qualify for reimbursement.

“I have documented consent for the billing from patient prior to service date for audio-only telehealth.”

YES

Go to the next question.

NO

Payment for audio-only telehealth services may differ from in-person services or may be disallowed for reimbursement.

Please note that this online tool is intended as a reference only. AAPPN does not intend to provide legal advice. If you have any concerns about how your practice meets the law, be sure to contact the Washington State Department of Health or an attorney.