D9996Teledentistry - Asynchronous; Information Stored and Forwarded to Dentist for Subsequent Review

What This Code Covers

D9996 covers teledentistry - asynchronous; information stored and forwarded to dentist for subsequent review. A dental consultation or evaluation is conducted remotely using telecommunications technology. Documentation requirements are the same as for in-person visits.

Billing Guide

Bill this code when:

• The procedure described by D9996 is performed and documented
• The clinical indication supports the procedure
• Documentation meets the payer's requirements for the service

Do not bill this code when:

• A different procedure was actually performed
• The procedure is included in another code being billed at the same visit
• Documentation does not support the medical necessity of the procedure
• The procedure is better described by D9985 (Sales tax)

Insurance and Denial Prevention

Key Payer Rules:

• Coverage for adjunctive services varies widely by plan and procedure type
• Sedation and anesthesia codes may require documentation of medical necessity
• Some adjunctive services are included in the primary procedure fee by certain payers
• Time-based codes require accurate start and end time documentation

Common Denials and How to Respond:

• Bundled with primary procedure - Verify the payer's bundling policies and appeal if the adjunctive service required additional clinical resources.
• Not medically necessary - Document the specific clinical reason the adjunctive service was required.
• Time documentation insufficient - Ensure start and end times are recorded in the patient chart for time-based codes.