Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island (BCBSRI) has updated the Temporary Telemedicine/Telehealth and Telephone Services During the COVID-19 Crisis policy regarding required modifiers.

For claims filed or on after October 1, 2020 BCBSRI will be requiring modifier 95 to be appended on all claims filed for services provided via Real-Time Interactive Audio and Video Telecommunications Systems. Please continue to file your claims with place of service 02, however, please place modifier 95 in the first modifier position and CR modifier in the second position.

Please note that BCBSRI would appreciate if you would file claims for audio/visual services with modifier 95, regardless of the dates of service on the claim on or after September 9, 2020. However, BCBSRI will not require the modifier submission until October 1, 2020.

We understand some providers are utilizing modifier 95 today for services provided via audio/visual means as it is a nationally accepted modifier. If so, there should be no change except that BCBSRI is requesting that modifier 95 be placed in the first modifier position unless the base service/code you are filing requires a modifier to report the service e.g. a 26 modifier. In those cases, the 95 modifier would be placed in the second position.  

For telephone only telemedicine claims, please continue to file as you do today with place of service 02 and the CR modifier. The absence of modifier 95 will allow BCBSRI to identify services provided via telephone only.

As always, we appreciate your participation with BCBSRI and the services you provide to our members.

Full details of the policy are available for review here. If you have any questions related to this change, please contact ProviderRelations@bcbsri.org.