Is there any reimbursement for telephone counseling?
At this time, there is no reimbursement for telephone counseling. However, it is our understanding that Medicare will soon be publishing results of a study it conducted showing telephone counseling to be effective with Medicare beneficiaries. The North American Quitline Consortium is taking the lead in working with ATTUD and other organizations to advocate for coverage of telephone counseling. Phone f/up is considered by CMS as part of the care a qualified provider should provide and, as such, cannot be billed for. This extends to cessation via telephone – even a qualified, approved provider cannot bill for phone cessation services.
