Teledentistry - Frequently Asked Questions Providers and Agents
What is telehealth and teledentistry?
Telehealth is not a specific service; it refers to a broad variety of technologies to deliver virtual health and educational services.
Teledentistry can include oral health patient care and education such as the following:
- Live video (synchronous); this includes two-way interaction between the patient and the dentist using audiovisual telecommunication technology.
- Store and forward (asynchronous); examples including transmission of recorded health information (radiographs, photographs, video and digital impressions) through a secure electronic communication system to a dentist who uses the information to evaluate a patient’s condition or render a service outside of a real-time or live interaction.
- Remote patient monitoring (RPM); personal health and medical data collection from an individual in one location via electronic communication technologies which is transmitted to a provider (sometimes via a data processing service) in a different location for use in care.
- Mobile health (mHealth); Health care and public health practice and education supported by mobile communication devices such as mobile phones, tablet computers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDA).
What prompts the need for teledentistry?
Teledentistry is an alternative solution to monitoring a patient’s oral health especially when a patient and dentist cannot be in the same physical location.
How long will Delta Dental of Minnesota cover a teledentistry examination under code D0140?
Delta Dental of Minnesota will continue to cover the teledentistry examination under code DO140 in accordance with member’s limit benefit guidelines. Please note that this teledentistry procedure coverage only applies to individual members and commercial group including Medicare Advantage members.
How should a teledentistry examination be coded?
Please submit the claim for your patient interaction using the appropriate evaluation procedure code, D0140. On a separate line, also submit teledentistry code D9995 for real-time interactions (synchronous) and D9996 for text, photo or other non-live interactions. Under Delta Dental policy, the fees for teledentistry (D9995 and D9996) are considered inclusive in overall patient management and are not billable to the patient. Standard dental policy will apply to the evaluation codes.
What is a limited oral evaluation under code D0140?
An evaluation limited to a specific oral health problem or complaint. This may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures. Patients receiving this type of evaluation typically present a specific problem and/or dental emergency related to trauma, acute infection, etc.
Please Note: Providers rendering teledentistry services to Minnesota Health Care Program members should follow DHS guidelines