Telehealth Definitions
Asynchronous store and forward:
The transmission of a patient's medical information from an originating site to the health care provider at a distant site without the presence of the patient. (Business and Professions Code section 2290.5(a)(1))
Distant site:
A site where a health care provider who provides health care services is located while providing these services via a telecommunications system. (Business and Professions Code section 2290.5(a)(2))
E-Consults:
Asynchronous health record consultation services that provide an assessment and management service in which the patient's treating health care practitioner (i.e., attending or primary) requests the opinion and/or treatment advice of another health care practitioner (i.e., consultant) with specific specialty expertise to assist in the diagnosis and/or management of the patient's health care needs without patient face-to-face contact with the consultant. E-consults between health care providers are designed to offer a coordinated multidisciplinary case reviews, advisory opinions, and recommendations of care. (Medi-Cal Provider Manual: Telehealth)
Originating site fee:
An amount paid to the originating site when providing service by two-way, real-time interactive communication or store and forward, when billed with HCPCS Code Q3014. (Medi-Cal Provider Manual: Telehealth)
Health care provider:
A person who is licensed under Division 2 of the Business and Professions Code, an associate marriage and family therapist, a qualified autism service provider or qualified autism service professional, an associate clinical social worker, an associate professional clinical counselor. (Business and Professions Code section 2290.5(a)(3))
Interactive telecommunications system:
Multimedia communications equipment that includes, at a minimum, audio and video equipment permitting two-way, real time interactive communication between the patient and distant site physician or practitioner. Telephones, facsimile machines, and electronic mail systems do not meet the definition of an interactive telecommunications system. (Title 42 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 410.78 (a)(3))
Originating site:
A site where a patient is located at the time health care services are provided via telehealth, including video or audio-only visits, or where the asynchronous store and forward service originates. (Business and Professions Code section 2290.5(a)(4))
Synchronous interaction:
A real-time interaction between a patient and a health care provider located at a distant site. (Business and Professions Code section 2290.5(a)(5)) A synchronous interaction can be either an audio-only synchronous interaction or a video synchronous interaction:
Audio-only synchronous interaction:
A real-time interaction between a patient and health care provider that is conducted solely via audio (e.g., telephone, internet call without video).
Video synchronous interaction:
A real-time interaction between a patient and health care provider that is conducted via an interactive technology platform that includes both audio and visual capabilities.
Telehealth:
The mode of delivering health care services and public health via information and communication technologies to facilitate the diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of a patient's health care. Telehealth facilitates patient self-management and caregiver support for patients and includes synchronous interactions and asynchronous store and forward transfers. (Telehealth includes telemedicine.) (Business and Professions Code section 2290.5(a)(6))
Transmission fees:
Transmission costs incurred from providing telehealth services via audio/video communication is reimbursable when billed with HCPCS code T1014 (telehealth transmission, per minute, professional services bill separately). (Medi-Cal Provider Manual: Telehealth)
