{"id":41473,"date":"2023-05-11T11:24:25","date_gmt":"2023-05-11T15:24:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mtelehealth.com\/?p=41473"},"modified":"2023-05-11T11:24:25","modified_gmt":"2023-05-11T15:24:25","slug":"whats-new-in-telehealth-reimbursements-for-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drmiltie.com\/at-home-testing\/whats-new-in-telehealth-reimbursements-for-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s New in Telehealth Reimbursements for 2023?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n

The big question for healthcare organizations that have expanded their telehealth services since the beginning of the pandemic has been what will happen when the public health emergency<\/a> ends. This uncertainty is what\u2019s known as the \u201ctelehealth cliff<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By authority granted under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act<\/a>, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services<\/a> provided flexibility for Medicare telehealth services by broadening the waiver authority under section 1135 of the Social Security Act.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This waived CMS\u2019s geographic and originating site requirements for telehealth reimbursement under Medicare. According to the requirements, the originating site (the patient\u2019s location at the time telehealth services are received) must be a physician\u2019s office, skilled nursing facility or hospital. The patient must also be located within a Health Professional Shortage Area or in a county outside of any Metropolitan Statistical Area (as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The emergency, which had been in effect since Jan. 31, 2020, has been extended by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services every three months<\/a>. However, the most recent extension, set to expire on May 11, 2023, was the last<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately for health IT leaders and patients who rely on telehealth services for healthcare access, in December 2022, congress passed the\u00a0Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023<\/a>, an omnibus appropriations bill that includes a two-year extension of Medicare telehealth waivers in addition to other provisions impacting healthcare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Updates for Telehealth Reimbursement in 2023<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Here is how the passing of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 will impact healthcare organizations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n