In lieu of permanent policy change, industry groups urged legislators to extend temporary telehealth flexibilities through the end of 2021. By Kat Jercich December 14, 2020 10:21 AM The American Telemedicine Association, the Connected Health Initiative and other industry groups issued a letter to Congress on Friday urging legislators to extend temporary telehealth flexibilities until the end […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the United States, states, payers, and providers are looking for ways to expand access to telehealth services. Telehealth is an essential tool in ensuring patients are able to access the healthcare services they need in as safe a manner as possible. In order to provide our clients with quick […]
Key Takeaways With telehealth, pricing transparency and access to care address a largely unmet need. Consistency of care can be a challenge with telehealth. Cost savings aren’t universal across the telehealth spectrum of care. Treatment for behavioral health has excelled with the help of telehealth. A year ago, if you were feeling sick, you might […]
On December 3, 2020, HHS issued a Fourth Amendment to the Declaration under the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness Act (“PREP Act”), which, in part, expands access to certain telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (“PHE”). Most notably, this amendment preempts state professional licensure laws with respect to “Covered Countermeasures” that are provided through telehealth to […]
On December 1, 2020, CMS released its FY2021 Final Rule (“Final Rule”) updating the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The MPFS Final Rule is part of an annual cycle of regulations released during the fourth quarter of each calendar year which makes changes and updates to the various payment systems that comprise Medicare Parts A […]
The use of telemedicine has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In part because specific regulatory barriers were lowered, but also because an infrastructure was already in place to help manage workflow and facilitate payment. The story of how telehealth has flourished in the public health emergency and insights about where digital health may go next […]
In the 2021 final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rule, CMS made both permanent and temporary changes to supervision, telehealth and other provisions, capturing the fluidity of COVID-19 pandemic times. The rule, which was announced Dec. 1, extended the shelf life of some additions and revisions, which won’t expire until the end of the year in […]
Experts say the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule will advance telehealth adoption, but it falls short of giving momentum to remote patient monitoring. Oh, and Congress needs to step up to the plate, too. By Eric Wicklund December 08, 2020 – The 2021 Physician Fee Schedule isn’t knocking anyone over with optimism for the future of telehealth adoption. Reactions […]
On December 1, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new policies related to remote patient monitoring aka remote physiologic monitoring or “RPM,” reimbursed under the Medicare program. The changes, part of the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule final rule are intended to clarify CMS’ position on how it interprets requirements for RPM services. This […]
Telehealth technology has proved to be a reliable tool for Medicare providers throughout the pandemic, according to a bipartisan and bicameral group of 49 lawmakers who want to lock in those gains now. In a Dec. 4 letter, the lawmakers urge House and Senate leaders to use end-of-year legislation to permanently expand Medicare coverage of telehealth services. The letter […]
On December 3 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authorized health care practitioners licensed in other states to provide telehealth services across state lines for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. This emergency measure only applies to practitioners who provide testing and treatment of COVID infections. It preempts state licensing laws that erect barriers […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) expanded Medicare reimbursement for telehealth within the annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule for 2021. During the pandemic Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS has temporarily reimbursed many telehealth services. In light of the success of unprecedented telehealth utilization during the PHE, more than 60 services have been […]
The Health and Human Services Secretary will allow healthcare providers to use telehealth across state lines to deliver “Covered Countermeasures” against the coronavirus. By Eric Wicklund December 04, 2020 – The federal government is expanding the telehealth platform for diagnostic tests and other devices that may be used to address the coronavirus pandemic. The US Department of Health […]
Telehealth has proved vital during the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than four dozen lawmakers want to see maximized moving forward. A bipartisan, bicameral collection of 49 lawmakers urged House and Senate leaders Friday to include a permanent expansion of access to telehealth services in potential end-of-year legislation. In a letter authored by Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, […]
The federal government on Tuesday finalized its proposed physician fee schedule for the 2021 calendar year, formalizing cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates for therapy services provided to residents covered under Part B — while also expanding some telehealth flexibilities offered during COVID-19. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in August floated a 9% […]