Is G0443 covered for telehealth? (Medicare)
G0443 (brief alcohol misuse counseling) appears on Medicare's approved telehealth services list, meaning Medicare will consider payment when the service is furnished via telehealth under Medicare's telehealth rules. This is a Medicare-specific determination — it does not automatically apply to commercial or Medicaid plans.
How to bill it
Bill G0443 with place of service 02 or 10, selecting whichever reflects where the patient was located during the encounter, and append modifier 95 to indicate the service was delivered via synchronous telecommunications. Confirm the claim otherwise meets standard documentation and frequency requirements for this counseling code. POS reference → · modifier reference →
Audio-only
Medicare's list of telehealth services doesn't specify audio-only eligibility for this code. Audio-only is permitted for a number of services (notably behavioral and mental-health care); confirm against current CMS guidance and your payer before billing audio-only.
Frequently asked
What's the difference between POS 02 and POS 10 for this code?
POS 02 indicates the patient was not in their home for the telehealth visit, while POS 10 indicates the patient was in their home. Use the code that matches the patient's actual location during the encounter.
Does this Medicare coverage apply to commercial or Medicaid payers?
No. This guidance reflects Medicare's telehealth list only. Commercial and state Medicaid telehealth policies for G0443 can differ significantly and should be verified with each payer separately.
Is modifier 95 always required with G0443?
Modifier 95 is the modifier guidance associated with this code on Medicare's telehealth list; confirm it's applied whenever the service is delivered via telehealth rather than in person, per current Medicare instructions.
More free billing tools: all telehealth codes · telehealth checker · Medicare fee for G0443 · place of service · modifiers
Reflects Medicare's list of telehealth services for this year; audio-only, POS and modifier rules can change. Commercial and Medicaid telehealth coverage differ — verify current CMS guidance and your payer's rules before billing.
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