The federal government released a breakdown of strategies that accountable care organizations (ACOs) have used to successfully partner with skilled nursing facilities — a move that could indicate policymakers’ continued support of the care models. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a care coordination toolkit for ACOs that drew from focus […]
By Tim Mullaney | April 15, 2019 Recently finalized Medicare Advantage (MA) policy changes will likely bring more telehealth services to senior living communities. Under the new policies, finalized on April 5 by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), Medicare Advantage plans will be allowed to cover telehealth services that originate from beneficiaries’ […]
The expansion of telehealth is changing the landscape of health care. This is the second in a four-part series exploring what providers should know about this growing area. Before 2015, Medicare did not pay separately for telehealth, and telehealth and telemedicine services were bundled into “evaluation and management” codes. However, in 2015, the Center for […]
The rule updates give Medicare Advantage plans the flexibility to offer telehealth as a covered benefit, boosting patient care access. By Sara Heath April 09, 2019 – CMS has finalized updates that would introduce telehealth as a covered benefit in Medicare Advantage plans, which will ideally improve patient care access. This move comes as a part […]
On Friday, April 5, 2019, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) announced that it had finalized policies allowing Medicare Advantage plans (“MA Plans”) to include additional telehealth benefits in their basic benefit packages starting in 2020. The final rule implementing the changes (the “Final Rule”) will be published in the Federal Register on April 16, […]
Providers will be able to offer more telemedicine services to seniors in private Medicare plans, thanks to changes announced Friday. But nursing home advocates are pushing for more, hoping the technology can help ease the industry’s ongoing staffing challenges. Under the final rule starting in plan year 2020, nursing facility patients on Part C plans […]
By Meredith Parnell on April 9, 2019h Last week the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced significant policy changes for Medicare Advantage (MA) and Part D programs. On April 1, 2019, CMS released the calendar year 2020 Rate Announcement and Call Letter, and on April 5, 2019, CMS release the unpublished version of […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule proposed in October 2018 that loosens regulations on telehealth services offered in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. For context, MA is a type of health insurance offered by private insurers to consumers 65 and up as an alternative to the government’s traditional Medicare program. Membership […]
A final rule issued by CMS on April 5 cemented policies to increase plan choices and benefits for enrollees in the Medicare Advantage (MA) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) programs, opening those beneficiaries to supplemental services like telehealth and streamlining the appeals process for those unsatisfied with their healthcare. The final rule, which […]
CMS has finalized new rules unveiled last year that will expand telehealth access and reimbursement for the growing number of Americans in Medicare Advantage plans – and their doctors. By Eric Wicklund April 08, 2019 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has finalized its plan to expand telehealth access and coverage in Medicare Advantage […]
The new ruling will expand access geographical and plans will have more flexibility in payment models. By Laura Lovett Come 2020, Medicare Advantage (MA) members will have more access to virtual care visits, according to a new ruling from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that was finalized on Friday. The new ruling will […]
The new rule, which will go into effect in the 2020 plan year, will allow Medicare Advantage to offer telehealth services as part of their basic benefits, providing patients more options to receive healthcare services from locations like their home. By Kevin Truong / Apr 7, 2019 at 2:47 PM As part of effort by […]
Home care providers slow to chase Medicare Advantage business opportunities may now be motivated to speed up their pursuits. Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced it was broadening the range of supplemental benefits Medicare Advantage (MA) plans can offer in 2020. Starting next year, health care policymakers will allow MA […]
Access to telehealth services for seniors got another boost Friday when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said it would allow private Medicare Advantage plans to offer additional access to virtual doctors in their basic benefit packages. The so-called final rule will bring new benefits to seniors in 2020 as part of their Medicare […]
CMS finalizes policies to bring innovative telehealth benefit to Medicare AdvantageFinal Rule will strengthen popular Medicare private health insurance plans, expand telehealth access for patients, and improve coordination for dual-eligible individuals Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized policies that will increase plan choices and benefits, including allowing Medicare Advantage plans to […]