The American Telemedicine Association and affiliate ATA Action are voicing support for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule for the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule, which the advocates note extends into the new year the telehealth flexibilities put forward during the COVID-19 public health emergency. “The proposed rule is, overall, positive for the telehealth community and patients, and […]
Citations: H.R. 1843; Telehealth Expansion Act of 2023 118TH CONGRESS1ST SESSION H.R. 1843 To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extendthe exemption for telehealth services from certain high deductible health plan rules. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 28, 2023 Mrs. STEEL (for herself, Mrs. LEE of Nevada, Mr. SMITH of Nebraska, and […]
CMS 2024 Proposed Rule Policy Updates On July 13, 2023, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the CMS 2024 Proposed Rule and Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including possible Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule and other Medicare Part B issues policy updates. While the CMS 2024 proposed rule contained no new CPT […]
At a Glance The annual Medicare physician payment rule is upon us, proposed July 13, 2023, for calendar year (CY) 2024 and open for public comment through September 11. Each year, the couple-of-thousand-page rule makes modifications to how Medicare pays physician and nonphysician providers for their services, including for telehealth services. In recent years, the physician […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the calendar year (CY) 2024 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B (CMS-1784-P) Proposed Rule, which includes proposals related to Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The Proposed Rule, released on July […]
CMS recently released the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule (Proposed Rule), which included many noteworthy proposals and clarifications related to Medicare telehealth services and other remote services. Since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) terminated on May 11, 2023, providers and practitioners have sought clarity on the end dates of various waivers and […]
CMS proposed changes to the physician fee schedule that would provide physicians with additional compensation to account for balancing telehealth visits with maintaining their physical offices, Politico reported July 17. The proposal would increase the payment rates of healthcare providers for the virtual care they offer Medicare patients remotely. The additional compensation for telehealth services will be […]
On July 13, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B [CMS-1784-P] Proposed Rule, which includes proposals related to Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). Physicians and other […]
Industry reactions have been very mixed to the announcement by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) of the agency’s proposed physician fee schedule, with many national provider associations blasting the proposed fee schedule, while praising the extension of payment parity for telehealth-delivered patient care. The agency’s announcement was posted to its website on […]
Dive Brief: Dive Insight: The development of remote patient-monitoring devices and other connected medical technologies has made it possible to treat more patients at home. In theory, home care can help reduce costs and risks associated with spending time in healthcare facilities and lessen burdens on patients. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated uptake and validation of telehealth […]
Tuesday, June 27, 2023 Trending in Telehealth is a new series from the McDermott digital health team in which we highlight state legislative and regulatory developments that impact the healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists, and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the delivery of virtual care. Trending in the past week: A CLOSER […]
Telehealth changes that helped physicians and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic could become permanent under a new bill pending in Congress. Meanwhile, another leading physician group is supporting site-neutral payment for medical services. The two issues have sparked renewed discussion this month due to proposals by federal policy makers. CONNECT in Congress A bipartisan group of 60 […]
Dive Brief: Dive Insight: Permanently expanding telemedicine access has broad bipartisan support in Congress. A number of bills have been introduced to codify more telehealth protections after COVID-19, including CONNECT, which is considered the most comprehensive virtual care legislation by advocacy groups. Since CONNECT was first introduced in 2016, a number of the bill’s original provisions have […]
What’s the news: A bipartisan group of 60 senators has reintroduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act, S. 2016, will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect […]