Some 46 percent of primary care physicians said they were not aware that they could be reimbursed for non-face-to-face time with Medicare patients who have more than one chronic condition, according to a SmartCCM survey of 500 primary care physicians, which was fielded by Medical Marketing.

The survey was fielded in July and August 2015 and asked primary care physicians how much they knew about the Medicare CPT code 99490.

This code allows physicians to get reimbursed for non-face-to-face care if the patient has two or more chronic conditions that are expected to last more than one year. Other requirements include: the chronic conditions place the patient at significant risk of death, and that providers create, revise, or monitor a comprehensive care plan.

Around 56 percent of primary care physicians said one of the biggest challenges they face when caring for these patients is the complexity of managing multiple conditions and 63 percent said they don't have time to offer patients with chronic conditions with extra guidance to understand their treatment plans.

The survey found that 38 percent of physicians said they do not reach out to this population between office visits. Physicians also said that around 75 percent of these patients are only "somewhat compliant" to their care plan.

"Knowing that chronic care patients are a significant part of the population – and a group that has additional needs – it is critical that physicians find ways to regularly monitor their wellness and compliance,” Andrew Baumiller, CEO of SmartCCM, said in a statement. “The insights from this survey show that physicians are deeply invested in patient care, but need assistance in implementing CPT code 99490.”