The OIG’s Final Rule on changes to the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute creates several new safe harbors that will help providers create and expand telehealth platforms and remote patient monitoring programs. By Eric Wicklund November 24, 2020 – New safe harbors proposed for the Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute could help providers expand their telehealth and remote patient […]
The first of a two-part story on 10 takeaways about the telehealth boom. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a bumpy ride in the U.S., featuring one controversy after another. One of the few areas of agreement is that the widespread adoption of telehealth amid the pandemic has been, by and large, a positive development. The […]
CMS released the 2021 physician fee schedule Dec. 1 with expanded telehealth services, remote physiologic monitoring updates and an extension for telecommunications tech supervision. Seven takeaways: 1. CMS clarified its payment policies related to the remote physiologic monitoring services for CPT codes 99453, 99454, 99091, 99457 and 99458, which were finalized in recent years. These services include remote monitoring of weight, […]
Fact sheet Dec 01, 2020 On December 1, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that includes updates on policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and other Medicare Part B issues, on or after January 1, 2021. The calendar year (CY) 2021 PFS final […]
Today the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, prioritizing CMS’ investment in primary care and chronic disease management by increasing payments to physicians and other practitioners for the additional time they spend with patients, especially those with chronic conditions. The rule allows non-physician practitioners to […]
A bill introduced last month would deny certain federal funding to states who don’t join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which aims to improve telehealth expansion by streamlining licensure applications. By Eric Wicklund November 24, 2020 – A group of Congressmen wants to prod states into joining the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which aims to make it easier […]
The Medicare home health benefit does not currently permit the inclusion of telehealth services as a reimbursable service as part of the plan of care. Despite this, many home health agencies (HHAs) have found great value for their patients in including telehealth as part of care delivery and do so despite the lack of reimbursement. […]
The Alliance of Community Health Plans urged Congress to consider making telehealth flexibilities more concrete and increasing federal burden for coronavirus testing coverage. By Kelsey Waddill November 23, 2020 – The Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP) urged Congress to take steps toward making telehealth flexibilities permanent and to ensure that coronavirus testing is available to consumers without cost-sharing. “One […]
Lightened telehealth regulations have expanded access to virtual visits for therapy and other mental health services. But many patients still aren’t having their needs met. By ELISE REUTER Post a comment / Nov 19, 2020 at 8:50 PM Worries about rising Covid-19 cases, a challenging presidential transition, and growing inequities are crushing people across the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Monday touted several tools designed to help states rebalance their long-term care ecosystem toward home- and community-based services. The development is the latest in a series of CMS efforts aimed at strengthening home- and community-based services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with the ultimate goal of […]
Medicare dramatically expanded benefits for remote health care in response to COVID-19. Here’s what you need to know. Walecia Konrad November 20, 2020 Many or all of the products featured here are from our partners who compensate us. This may influence which products we write about and where and how the product appears on a […]
Most physicians at the American Medical Association‘s virtual special meeting of its House of Delegates agreed that expanding access to telemedicine during the pandemic benefited patients and practices alike — saving at least one from bankruptcy. In a recent AMA poll, 60% said that telehealth has improved the health of their patients. Yet delegates struggled to craft […]
The American Medical Association has adopted new telehealth policy positions, the organization announced upon the Tuesday closing of a special five-day virtual meeting. In an email sent to the press Nov. 18, the organization’s media department said the updated telemedicine playbook directs the AMA to advocate with lawmakers and regulators on codifying rules governing coverage, access […]
