New Telehealth CPT Codes 2026: What Replaced 99441–99443

Telehealth is no longer new. But telehealth billing errors are increasing in 2026.

Many practices are still using deleted telephone codes, applying the wrong CPT codes for the payer, or failing to document the visit correctly. The result is predictable: denied claims, delayed payments, and compliance risk.

The biggest issue is not the new codes themselves. It is confusing.

• What replaced 99441–99443?
• Should you use 98000 codes or 99213?
• Does Medicare follow the same rules as commercial payers?

If your billing team cannot answer these questions clearly, your revenue cycle is already at risk.

This guide explains exactly what changed, what to use now, and how to avoid the most common telehealth billing mistakes in 2026.

Why Telehealth Billing Changed After 2025

During the public health emergency, telehealth billing relied on temporary rules. Providers used office visit codes (99202–99215) with modifiers to indicate remote care. Telephone services were billed using 99441–99443.

That system was never designed for long-term use.

To standardize telehealth billing, the American Medical Association introduced a new family of CPT codes (98000–98016). These codes align telehealth visits with standard evaluation and management (E/M) logic, using time or medical decision-making (MDM).

However, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services did not fully adopt these codes. This created a dual system that still defines telehealth billing in 2026.

What Happened to CPT Codes 99441–99443

CPT codes 99441, 99442, and 99443 are permanently deleted.

These codes were used for telephone-only visits. They are no longer valid and will trigger automatic denials if submitted.

Why were they removed

• Limited to established patients only
• Strict time brackets that did not reflect real workflows
• Lower reimbursement compared to E/M services
• Did not support modern telehealth delivery

What Replaced 99441–99443

The replacement is the audio-only telehealth E/M code set:

• 98008–98011 → New patients
• 98012–98015 → Established patients

These new codes:

• Support both new and established patients
• Allow time or MDM-based coding
• Reflect the clinical complexity of the visit

This is a major shift. Audio-only care is now treated as a legitimate E/M service rather than a limited telephone interaction.

New Telehealth CPT Codes (98000–98016 Explained Clearly)

The new telehealth codes fall into three categories.

1. Audio-Video Telehealth Visits

• 98000–98003 → New patients
• 98004–98007 → Established patients

These are equivalent to office visits but delivered via video.

2. Audio-Only Telehealth Visits

• 98008–98011 → New patients
• 98012–98015 → Established patients

These replaced the deleted telephone codes and now support more flexible billing.

3. Brief Virtual Communication

• 98016 → Short check-in (5–10 minutes)

This replaces HCPCS code G2012.

Audio-Only vs Audio-Video: The Most Misunderstood Difference

Many claim denials in 2026 happen because practices do not clearly distinguish between these two.

Audio-Video Visits

• Real-time video required
• Standard E/M coding applies
• Typically higher reimbursement

Audio-Only Visits

• No video used
• Must document why the video was not possible
• Still billable under new CPT codes

Documentation Requirement (Critical for Audits)

You must document:

• Modality (audio-only vs video)
• Time or MDM level
• Patient consent
• Clinical necessity

If modality is not documented, the claim may fail during payer review.

Medicare vs Commercial Payers: The #1 Billing Confusion in 2026

This is where most practices make mistakes.

Medicare (CMS Rules)

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services generally requires:

• 99202–99215 (standard E/M codes)
• Modifier 95 for audio-video visits
• POS 02 or POS 10

In most cases, Medicare does not reimburse 98000-series codes.

Commercial Payers

Many commercial insurers are adopting:

• 98000–98016 telehealth codes

However, rules vary. Some still follow CMS-style billing.

The Reality: Dual Coding System

Using the wrong payer code is one of the fastest ways to trigger a denial.

Modifier 95 vs Modifier 93 (Do Not Confuse These)

This area causes frequent billing errors.

Modifier 95

• Used mainly for audio-video telehealth
• Required by Medicare

Modifier 93

• Used for audio-only services
• Required by some commercial payers only
• Not universally required

Key Rule

Never assume modifiers apply to all payers. Always verify payer-specific requirements.

POS 02 vs POS 10 (Another Common Error)

• POS 02 → Telehealth (patient not at home)
• POS 10 → Telehealth (patient at home)

Incorrect POS coding can reduce reimbursement or cause denials.

Real-World Billing Scenarios

Scenario 1: 20-Minute Video Visit (Established Patient)

Incorrect:

• 98005 billed to Medicare

Correct:

• Medicare → 99213 + modifier 95
• Commercial → 98005

Scenario 2: Audio-Only New Patient

Old system:

• Not billable

New system:

• Commercial → 98008

Scenario 3: Virtual Check-In

Incorrect:

• G2012

Correct:

• 98016

Most Common Telehealth Claim Denials in 2026

• Using deleted codes (99441–99443)
• Billing 98000 codes to Medicare
• Missing modifier 95 when required
• Incorrect POS code
• No documentation of visit modality
• Time does not match billed level

These issues often lead to review by Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs).

Documentation Checklist for Telehealth Compliance

To protect your practice from denials and audits, ensure your documentation includes:

• Audio-only or audio-video confirmation
• Total time or MDM level
• Patient consent
• Provider and patient location
• Technology used
• Reason for audio-only (if applicable)

Incomplete documentation is a leading cause of audit risk.

Step-by-Step: How to Choose the Correct Telehealth CPT Code

1. Identify payer (Medicare vs commercial)
2. Confirm visit type (audio vs video)
3. Determine patient status (new vs established)
4. Select coding method (time or MDM)
5. Apply the correct CPT code and modifier

This structured approach reduces coding errors and improves claim acceptance rates.

Where Telehealth Billing Is Heading After 2026

Telehealth is moving toward:

• Greater payment parity with in-person care
• More standardized documentation requirements
• Expanded use of digital health and remote monitoring codes

However, payer variation will continue. Practices that rely on outdated assumptions will face ongoing revenue loss.

Conclusion

CPT codes 99441–99443 are no longer valid. They have been replaced by a structured telehealth coding system that reflects modern care delivery.

But the real challenge in 2026 is not learning new codes. It is applying the correct code based on the payer, visit type, and documentation.

Practices that understand the dual system, document accurately, and follow payer-specific rules will reduce denials and improve revenue. Those that do not will continue to face claim rejections and compliance risk.

FAQs

1. What replaced CPT 99441–99443?
   They were replaced by audio-only telehealth codes 98008–98015.
2. Are 98000 telehealth codes accepted by Medicare?
   Generally, no. Medicare still uses standard E/M codes.
3. Can you bill audio-only visits in 2026?
   Yes, using updated telehealth CPT codes depending on payer rules.
4. What is the difference between 99213 and 98005?
   99213 is used for Medicare telehealth, while many commercial payers use 98005.
5. Do you still use modifier 95?
   Yes, especially for Medicare telehealth visits.
6. When should modifier 93 be used?
   For audio-only visits when required by specific payers.
7. What POS should be used for telehealth?
   POS 02 or POS 10, depending on patient location.
8. Are telephone visits still billable?
   Yes, but only under new telehealth CPT codes.

Author Bio

Arj Fatima specializes in U.S. medical billing, coding compliance, and revenue cycle management. She creates educational, search-focused content based on CMS guidelines, CPT updates, and real-world billing scenarios to help healthcare providers reduce denials, stay compliant, and improve financial performance.