What Are E-Visits? A Guide for Modern Therapy Clinics

Think of all the time your staff spends answering routine questions, handling follow-ups, or managing non-urgent clinical requests. Now imagine if some of that work could happen asynchronously—without scheduling a call or video chat.

That’s where E-Visits come in. They’re changing how care is delivered in therapy practices, offering a flexible way to connect with patients while keeping your operations running smoothly. In this article, we’ll break down what E-Visits are, how they work, and why they’re especially useful for clinics like yours.

What are E-Visits?

E-Visits are a form of asynchronous telehealth—meaning they don’t require real-time interaction. Instead, patients initiate communication through a secure digital platform, usually a patient portal, and a licensed provider responds within a set timeframe (often 24–72 hours).

They’re different from live video visits or phone calls. E-Visits are designed for non-emergency, low-complexity issues—things like therapy progress updates, medication questions, or follow-up instructions. They’re HIPAA-compliant, typically integrated with your EHR system, and increasingly covered by insurance.

Why E-Visits matter for therapy practices

For therapy clinics juggling a mix of appointments, documentation, and patient outreach, E-Visits offer real operational relief. Here’s how they help:

• Save time: Free up therapists and front office staff from unnecessary calls or in-person sessions.
• Boost patient access: Clients can reach out after hours, without needing to book time slots.
• Improve documentation: Communications are automatically logged into the EHR.
• Enhance satisfaction: Patients appreciate faster, on-their-time answers for simple concerns.

In a recent American Medical Association report, over 60% of practices reported reduced administrative burden after implementing asynchronous visit tools like E-Visits.

How E-Visits work: a simple breakdown

Here’s how the typical E-Visit flow looks in a therapy setting:

1. Patient logs into the portal and submits a secure message or structured form.
2. The system routes the request to the right provider or assistant.
3. Provider reviews and replies—often with a combination of written advice, resources, or next steps.
4. The interaction is logged in the EHR and, if eligible, billed as an E-Visit under appropriate CPT codes.
5. If the issue requires escalation, staff can schedule a follow-up call or in-person visit.

This model works well for progress check-ins, session recaps, minor symptom updates, or even treatment plan questions.

Real-world use cases for E-Visits in therapy

Here’s how therapy clinics are putting E-Visits into action:

• Speech therapy follow-ups: Parents upload a short video of home practice; the therapist replies with feedback.
• ABA progress notes: RBTs report milestones through a form, and BCBAs reply asynchronously with recommendations.
• Multidisciplinary questions: A patient asks about integrating PT with OT plans, and providers coordinate via E-Visit threads.

Some clinics also use templated questionnaires to streamline intake updates or screen for issues between sessions.

If you’re curious about compliance, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has outlined E-Visit privacy guidelines here: HHS.gov telehealth policies.

FAQs about E-Visits

1. Are E-Visits the same as telehealth video visits?No. E-Visits are asynchronous, meaning communication happens over time via secure messaging—not live video or phone.

2. What can be handled through an E-Visit in therapy?Common examples include session summaries, behavior updates, medication questions, or homework reviews.

3. Are E-Visits reimbursed by insurance?Yes, many payers—including Medicare—cover E-Visits when billed with specific CPT codes like 99421–99423.

4. Is special software required?You’ll need a HIPAA-compliant patient portal or messaging tool, often integrated into your EHR system.

5. Can therapy assistants use E-Visits?They can contribute notes, but only licensed providers (e.g., SLPs, BCBAs, OTs) can respond in billable E-Visit formats.

Final thoughts

E-Visits aren’t just a digital trend—they’re a practical, time-saving tool for therapy practices that want to work smarter. Whether you're looking to cut down on admin work, offer better patient access, or simply modernize your workflow, they’re a solid step in the right direction.

As the healthcare industry moves toward more flexible care models, E-Visits are becoming a go-to strategy for clinics that want to stay ahead of the curve.