Virtual Care

January 16, 2024

On this page

Webinars

AMA partners and stakeholders should feel free to use the presentation material as they see fit for their own members. The AMA would ask that, where applicable, partners recognize the AMA via a short credit/author note. Thank you!

Please visit Webinars & Online Learning for recordings of all past AMA webinars and details on upcoming webinars.

January 26, 2022

Virtual Fee Code Update:

Navigating the Updated Virtual Fee Codes

Hosted by AMA Health Economics and virtual care physician leaders, this webinar reviewed policy and progress to date in advancing changes to virtual health service codes, the latest changes in Virtual Care billing codes and practical applications of updated codes and modifiers. View slides.

April 3, 2020

Virtual Care codes and March 31 changes to the SOMB

The AMA hosted a webinar focused on Virtual Care codes and the March 31, 2020 Schedule of Medical Benefits changes.

View presentation slidesThe information herein is what was known on the date of the seminar. Any intervening changes in the SOMB are not reflected in the slide deck. For full information please ensure to check the AMA Fee Navigator® and direct any questions to Health Economics.

March 27, 2020

Getting started with Virtual Care and help with privacy, tools and billing

The AMA hosted two webinars for Alberta physicians, focusing on how to start using Virtual Care for patient care while minimizing risk of exposure to patients, staff and physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered included getting started with Virtual Care, privacy, tools and billing. The two sessions were merged into one recording. View presentation slides

Privacy

Any change in existing tools or introduction of new tools in your clinic requires a Privacy Impact Assessment.

For more information on getting started visit Privacy Impact Assessments on the OIPC website or Privacy Tools and Resources on the AMA website.

The Essentials to Getting Started with Virtual Care

  • Obtain patient email addresses and/or mobile numbers
    • Email addresses can be used for communicating new Virtual Care services to groups of patients, and depending on the Virtual Care tool can be used for sending the virtual visit link/URL to a patient.
    • Mobile numbers are useful for communicating with a patient if there are any issues with the virtual visit, or to ensure they are ready for their visit. 
  • Inform patients 
    • Patients should be aware of what Virtual Care services are being provided and how they will be communicated (via clinic or provider email address, text message, invite via application, etc.).
  • Confirm patient identity
    • If a patient is previously known to the physician or staff, identity verification may be as simple as recognizing each other's voice.
    • If not, ensure a process is in place to verify identity of the patient or their agent. This can be done by asking for full name, date of birth and one other key piece of information such as postal code.
  • Obtain patient consent
    • Verbal consent documented in the patient’s chart is fine as a minimum. CMPA recommends the use of a signed informed consent form: View Word version or PDF version
    • CPSA has provided guidance on obtaining and documenting consent in the following COVID-19 Virtual Care Statement.
  • Update patient chart
    • Ensure all conversations electronic or otherwise are documented in the patient chart. Do not rely upon the Virtual Care tool to document patient care episodes.
  • View checklist version of the above content

Virtual Care Tools

The CPSA COVID-19 Virtual Care Statement states that “The CPSA recognizes that in the extraordinary circumstances posed by the pandemic where patient safety may be compromised by a delay in deployment of Virtual Care technologies, that short term use of unregulated Virtual Care technology can be justified.”

To support the CPSA message the AMA is providing members with key information below on both regulated (PIA accepted by OIPC) and unregulated options. It’s important to note that many unregulated options may meet privacy and security requirements. This will be determined once a PIA is completed and submitted by a custodian in Alberta.

EMR Integrated Tools

The following tools offer integration with community EMRs.

  • Brightsquid Secure-mail is integrated into Alberta MyHealth Records and TELUS Health MedDialog. Use it for secure communication with patients, physicians, and allied health professionals. Secure-Mail is free for the first two months.
  • Microquest offers a full suite of Virtual Care tools, including a Patient Portal with secure Patient Messaging, Virtual Appointments and Intake Forms that can be completed on any device, all fully integrated within Healthquest. In addition, dr2dr Secure Messaging continues to be free of charge to all health care professionals across Canada. Visit Microquest.ca for more information.
  • QHR (Accuro EMR) offers Accuro Engage as part of an integrated suite of products for Accuro users to connect with their patients and Medeo Virtual Care for non-Accuro users. Both products provide secure and easy communication. Please contact QHR to sign up or if you would like more information.
  • TELUS Health has details and regular updates on TELUS Health Virtual Care offerings - many offered for free during the pandemic, related tip sheets, COVID-19 related templates, and critical contact information. They have also created province specific guidance on their EMR product capabilities in Get More From Your EMR.

View additional details on EMR integrated solutions

AHS Tools

  • Zoom.us is currently in use by AHS in various locations.

Unintegrated Tools

There are many other virtual care tools available to Alberta physicians. While they are not integrated with community EMRs, many do meet privacy and security requirements and may work with your clinic workflow.

We have consolidated a list in our toolkit of various offerings with some functional, and privacy and security compliance details. This list will be updated as new information becomes available. We do not have a formal accreditation or validation process, so we highly recommend that physicians perform a thorough review of the solution prior to selection.

We recommend the use of regulated tools. However, for use in urgent situations, unregulated tools can be considered when “safer” options may not be available. They may not necessarily meet privacy and security requirements such as data stored within Canada, encryption, etc.

Billing Codes

The following is an overview of codes that are now available to support virtual communications between physicians and patients. It’s critical to refer to AMA Fee Navigator® for more detailed information to ensure full understanding of the requirements for claiming the new codes.

Virtual Care Codes (without limitations)

03.01AD
$20.00

Advice to Patient or their Agent via Telephone, Email and Videoconference including Virtual Care during a Viral Epidemic. Maximum 1 per patient per physician per day.

Have questions about using the 03.01AD code? See our billing tip: 03.01AD for COVID-19 for helpful information and answers to common questions.

03.03CV

Assessment provided by General Practitioners (GP) and Specialists via telephone or secure videoconference; 10+ minutes of direct time plus same-day patient care management time.

Modifiers now available at specific time thresholds, equivalent to in-person limited assessment (HSC 03.03A). Refer to the AMA Billing Tip for details on the appropriate modifier. 

Base visit rates will be equal to an in-person limited assessment (HSC 03.03A) and vary by skill. 
 

03.03FV

Follow up assessments (visits), for referred patients only, provided by specialists via telephone or secure videoconference; 10+ minutes of direct time plus same-day patient care management time.

Modifiers now available at specific time thresholds, equivalent to in-person limited assessment (HSC 03.03F). Refer to the AMA Billing Tip for details on the appropriate modifier. 

Base visit rates will be equal to an in-person limited assessment (HSC 03.03F) and vary by skill.
 

03.08CV

Comprehensive consultations provided via telephone or secure videoconference; consultation requirements apply; 10+ minutes of direct time plus same-day patient care management time.  Consultation requirements for referral and return consultation letter remain. 

The CMXC30 modifier is now available at 30 minutes, equivalent to in-person comprehensive consultations (HSC 03.08A). Refer to the AMA Billing Tip for details on the appropriate modifier. 

Base consultation rates will be equal to an in-person comprehensive consultation (HSC 03.08A) and vary by skill.
 

08.19CX

Comprehensive psychiatric consultation provided via telephone or secure videoconference; consultation requirements apply.

Rates will be equal to an in-person psychiatric consultation (HSC 08.19A) and vary by skill.

08.19CV

Psychotherapy and other psychiatric services (such as group therapy) provided via telephone or secure videoconference by a Psychiatrist or a Generalist in Mental Health.

Rates will be equal to an in-person psychiatric assessment (HSC 08.19GA) and vary by skill.

08.19CW

Psychotherapy and other psychiatric services (such as group therapy) provided via telephone or secure videoconference by a GP or Pediatrician, per full 15 minutes.

Rates will be equal to an in-person psychiatric assessment (HSC 08.19G) and vary by skill.

Virtual Codes (with limitations)

03.05JR $20.00

Physician Telephone Call Directly to Patient to Discuss Test Results. Maximum of 14 per week per physician.

03.01S
$20.00

Physician to Patient Secure Electronic Communication. Maximum 1 per patient per week to a maximum 14 per week per physician.

03.01T
$20.00

Physician to Patient Secure Videoconference. Maximum 1 per patient per week to a maximum 14 per week per physician.

A few reminders:

  • Virtual care codes do not apply to the limitations of “V” category code as they relate to the Daily Cap for office, home and unregistered facilities.
  • BCP and RRNP do not apply to virtual care codes and complex modifiers do not apply to virtual care codes. Only time spent directly with the patient may be used in the calculation of time for claiming services and the actual time spent with the patient must be recorded in the patient's chart.
  • The AMA is seeking improvements to the codes to include modifiers and to allow for a wider range of visit services.

For further information or questions on Virtual Care billing codes, please refer to the AMA Billing Corner or contact norma.shipley@albertadoctors.org.

Alberta Medical Association continues to advocate on behalf of members for Alberta Health to address the fee code constraints. We will update this section as the billing codes evolve. 

Please refer to Active Panel Management During the Pandemic: Principles to Guide Physicians’ Billings for information intended for physicians seeking to actively manage their patient panels during the pandemic using virtual care codes. 

Toolkit and Workflow Algorithm

A deeper dive on implementing Virtual Care in your practice: Download the toolkit.  

Visit Meeting Patients’ Needs: Algorithm for Today’s Primary and Specialty Care Teams for a stepwise approach to conducting patient care management and access to all tools associated with this algorithm.

The AMA thanks the Doctors of BC for providing valuable material that we continue to leverage to support our members. 

Additional Resources

Updates to this webpage will be made as new information becomes available.

If you have any questions please contact caroline.garland@albertadoctors.org

Virtual Care News

Considering a telemedicine or virtual care business in Canada? What you need to know

January 16, 2024

Are you thinking about launching a virtual care or telemedicine business in Canada this year? This bulletin provides an overview of recent regulatory requirements for physicians to consider.

Enhanced virtual care code bulletin now posted

January 12, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: The Alberta Health Bulletin for enhanced virtual care codes has now been published.

Update - Alberta Health bulletin on virtual care code changes

January 7, 2022

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I have heard from many physicians since the announcement of changes to virtual code priority items (time for indirect care and complex modifiers). Like me, they were happy to hear the news that these codes will be available, but urgently needing the details in an accompanying Alberta Health Bulletin.

Priority virtual care codes to increase

December 30, 2021

PRESIDENT'S LETTER: I am pleased to tell you about some changes to virtual care fee codes that are coming into effect January 1, 2022. They will be announced today in a joint news release from government and the Alberta Medical Association. As I’ve mentioned in past letters, a working group involving Alberta Health, Alberta Health Services, the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta and the AMA has been looking at both short- and long-term considerations around virtual care. Among other issues, the AMA has been advocating for changes to the virtual care fee schedule to make the provision of virtual care more financially sustainable.

Alberta Medical Association Mission: Advocate for and support Alberta physicians. Strengthen their leadership in the provision of sustainable quality care.