The Dutch Healthcare Authority implemented new codes for remote specialist care in 2021

On January 1, 2021, the DRG package for 2021 (RZ21) came into force to implement measures for remote provision of specialist medical care introduced during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020, including four new codes for reimbursement of remote consultations.

Instead of outpatient consultation, a healthcare provider can do the consultation remotely. A first outpatient visit, which is carried out by telephone or in writing, may temporarily be registered as a regular first outpatient visit. It is already permitted to register a screen-to-screen consultation as the first consultation. Four new procedure codes for remote consultations:

• 190164 "Call consultation to replace a first outpatient clinic visit"
• 190165 "Screen-to-screen consultation to replace a first outpatient clinic visit"
• 190166 "Screen-to-screen consultation to replace a repeat outpatient clinic visit"
• 190167 "Written consultation to replace a first outpatient clinic visit"

The Dutch Healthcare Authority changed the rules for several procedures so that face-to-face contact is no longer required. However, all conditions related to the provision of remote care must be met. For example, a remote consultation may only be registered and reimbursed if it replaces an outpatient clinic visit.

The full details in Dutch can be found here.

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