{"id":32450,"date":"2021-07-20T14:53:16","date_gmt":"2021-07-20T14:53:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.mtelehealth.com\/?p=32450"},"modified":"2021-07-20T14:53:16","modified_gmt":"2021-07-20T14:53:16","slug":"telehealth-here-to-stay-at-least-for-now-cms-considers-permanent-expansion-of-telehealth-services-in-proposed-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/telehealth-here-to-stay-at-least-for-now-cms-considers-permanent-expansion-of-telehealth-services-in-proposed-rule\/","title":{"rendered":"Telehealth \u2013 Here to Stay (At Least for Now): CMS Considers Permanent Expansion of Telehealth Services in Proposed Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

On July 13, 2021, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published<\/a> its annual proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. Among the 1,747 pages<\/a> of proposals, one notable standout is the announcement that CMS is considering permanently keeping the temporary additions to the list of approved telehealth services that was expanded during the COVID-19 public health emergency. To conduct its evaluation, CMS plans to keep the temporarily added services on the list until at least Dec. 31, 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CMS also announced changes to reimbursement for audio-only interactive telehealth and plans to allow audio-only services (i.e., telephone calls) for use in mental and behavioral health counseling and therapy services (including opioid treatment programs). Under this proposal, CMS would require all other telehealth services to be conducted with real-time, audio-video, interactive technology. Other changes for mental and behavioral telehealth that CMS is proposing are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n