Expanded Telehealth Use Includes Dental Services

Updated 05/11/2020 - After evaluating our current state status on COVID-19, BCBSKS is expanding telehealth/virtual services until June 30,2020.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS) continues to be committed to the health and safety of our members and communities we serve. We also want to support your tireless efforts to address the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Because of the public health emergency, BCBSKS is temporarily expanding the situations in which the use of telehealth technology is acceptable.

Effective March 16, 2020, this expansion will include dentistry services that are medically reasonable to be provided via telehealth. Telehealth shall be provided by means of real-time two-way interactive audio, visual, or audio-visual communications, including the application of secure video conferencing or store-and-forward technology to provide or support healthcare delivery, that facilitate the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education and care management of a patient’s health care. Please review guidance issued by HHS and OCR on telehealth communications during the COVID public health emergency issued March 17, 2020 at www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/.

There will temporarily be no member cost-share for telehealth services. The administration of no member cost-share will be handled at the claim processing level. Member benefits will not be changed in the system. Therefore, if you look at member benefits on Availity or perform a 270/271 transaction, member benefits will still show a cost share, as applicable.

Dentistry services that can be performed virtually will be billed to BCBSKS using the CDT code D0140 and the place of service 02. Reimbursement will be at the same rate as that for an in-person service, as long as, the service is medically necessary and occurs on or after March 16, 2020. This change will remain in effect for a 60-day period. At that time, BCBSKS will re-evaluate the situation for possible extension.

For more information regarding telehealth or dental services, contact your professional relations representative or Provider Network Services in Topeka at 785-291-4135 or 800-432-3587.