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Medicaid/Medicare

3/16/20 Reported on Clinicians United listserve that APA staff has learned that CMS will release new telehealth waivers by the beginning of next week. APA is planning to work with states in advocating around this. -Brennan

3/25/20 Medicare: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet “Key Takeaways”:

* Effective for services starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for Medicare telehealth services furnished to patients in broader circumstances.

* These visits are considered the same as in-person visits and are paid at the same rate as regular, in-person visits.

* Starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for professional services furnished to beneficiaries in all areas of the country in all settings.

* While they must generally travel to or be located in certain types of originating sites such as a physician’s office, skilled nursing facility or hospital for the visit, effective for services starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for Medicare telehealth services furnished to beneficiaries in any healthcare facility and in their home.

* The Medicare coinsurance and deductible would generally apply to these services. However, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) is providing flexibility for healthcare providers to reduce or waive cost-sharing for telehealth visits paid by federal healthcare programs.

* To the extent the 1135 waiver requires an established relationship, HHS will not conduct audits to ensure that such a prior relationship existed for claims submitted during this public health emergency.

Much other good information at that link, including about billing “eVisits”.

See also https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/congress-expands-medicare-telehealth-55541

medicaid_medicare.txt · Last modified: 2020/03/26 02:15 by vlayne