Federal officials are again relaxing rules with reference to telehealth use during the Coronavirus crisis. They will now allow physical therapists and other providers to get reimbursed through Medicare and expand coverage for phone-based services.
In an announcement made on April 30, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services issued many directives that aim to allow the healthcare industry to utilize connected health platforms and tools to improve access to care.
This document will be in force only as long as the COVID-19 emergency is in place.
These are the key changes regarding telehealth and mHealth coverage:
CMS waives limitations on the types of care providers that are eligible for Medicare reimbursement, allowing physical and occupational therapists and speech and language pathologists.
Hospitals are allowed to bill for outpatient services extended remotely by hospital-based practitioners, including telehealth patients at home- considered a “temporary provider-based department of the hospital.”
They will be able to bill Medicare as the originating site for telehealth services provided to those patients.
CMS expands the list of audio-only phone services reimbursable through Medicare. This includes many behavioral health and patient education services. The agency is increasing reimbursements for these services to match similar office or outpatient services, retroactive to March 1.
Now the agency will speed up the process to add new services to the list of telehealth services that can be reimbursed under Medicare.
Health clinics and rural health clinics that are federally qualified will now be reimbursed for providing telehealth services.
CMS will waive the video requirement for certain evaluation and management services. This will enable providers to bill Medicare for services provided by audio-only phones.
American Psychological Association CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD said that psychologists are now allowed to use their specialty skills to improve the health of all communities they serve, which includes older adults, people with lower income or education, people with disabilities and those living in rural areas.