Mental Health Evaluation: Computer Administered
TestSTAT measures are computer administered to patients either independently, or with assistance from a staff member (technician), or given by the HCP– yourself. These three methods have separate CPT codes, and are billable to all insurances–as will be detailed in the next section.
The technician can take BP readings, height & weight measurements, etc. used by the Framingham health guidelines. The tech can consult the EHR for cholesterol levels. An assistant is useful for less computer-sophisticated patients like seniors and while any computer can be used, we recommend touch screen tablet for simplicity. There is no software, as the test is web-based and results are scored on our remote servers. An internet connected tablet or computer is all that you need.
Using an assistant allows more comprehensive assessment then self-administered testing, and offers a much higher reimbursement rate. A single tech can assist several people at once increasing reimbursement, and the testing can be scheduled when office use is low (e.g., an evening or weekend) or part of the waiting room can be set off. A supervising HCP need not be physically present, as Medicare requires only “general supervision” of the technician, more about that later.
Read on for a description of the TestSTAT Pain Management Evaluation in the next section.