Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – Medicare
CMS Finalizes Telehealth, RPM Coverage in 2021 Physician Fee Schedule
The agency has released its long-awaited final document on Medicare coverage for telehealth and remote patient monitoring services in the coming year, building upon trends seen during this year’s coronavirus pandemic. By Eric Wicklund December 02, 2020 – Telehealth and remote patient monitoring will see significant improvements in Medicare coverage in 2021. The long-awaited 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, unveiled […]
Medicare Extends COVID-19 Telehealth Coverage in Diabetes Prevention Programs
As part of the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, Medicare will continue to reimburse Diabetes Prevention Program providers who use certain telehealth services – but only for the duration of the public health emergency. By Eric Wicklund December 02, 2020 – Healthcare providers who use telehealth in their Diabetes Prevention Programs will continue to be reimbursed through Medicare during […]
Consolidated Appropriations Act – 2021 – COVID-19 Relief Stimulus Bill – 2020-12-21
SEC. 903. FCC COVID–19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM. (a) DEFINITIONS.—In this section— (1) the term ‘‘appropriate congressional com- mittees’’ means— (A) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and (B) the Committee on Energy and Com- merce of the House of Representatives; (2) the term ‘‘Commission’’ means the Federal Communications Commission; and (3) the […]
Executive Summary: Tracking Telehealth Changes State-by-State in Response to COVID-19 – December 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the United States, states, payers, and providers are looking for ways to expand access to telehealth services. Telehealth is an essential tool in ensuring patients are able to access the healthcare services they need in as safe a manner as possible. In order to provide our clients with quick […]
CMS Releases FY2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule, Permanently Expanding Telehealth, Increasing Rates, and Broadening Scope of Practice for Non-Physicians
On December 1, 2020, CMS released its FY2021 Final Rule (“Final Rule”) updating the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS). The MPFS Final Rule is part of an annual cycle of regulations released during the fourth quarter of each calendar year which makes changes and updates to the various payment systems that comprise Medicare Parts A […]
How CPT codes set stage for telehealth’s rise amid pandemic
The use of telemedicine has skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. In part because specific regulatory barriers were lowered, but also because an infrastructure was already in place to help manage workflow and facilitate payment. The story of how telehealth has flourished in the public health emergency and insights about where digital health may go next […]
Final Physician Rule Changes Supervision, Adds Telehealth Codes, Some Permanently
In the 2021 final Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) rule, CMS made both permanent and temporary changes to supervision, telehealth and other provisions, capturing the fluidity of COVID-19 pandemic times. The rule, which was announced Dec. 1, extended the shelf life of some additions and revisions, which won’t expire until the end of the year in […]
Analysis: CMS Gives Telehealth a Boost, But More is Needed
Experts say the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule will advance telehealth adoption, but it falls short of giving momentum to remote patient monitoring. Oh, and Congress needs to step up to the plate, too. By Eric Wicklund December 08, 2020 – The 2021 Physician Fee Schedule isn’t knocking anyone over with optimism for the future of telehealth adoption. Reactions […]
2021 Medicare Remote Patient Monitoring FAQs: CMS Issues Final Rule
On December 1, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new policies related to remote patient monitoring aka remote physiologic monitoring or “RPM,” reimbursed under the Medicare program. The changes, part of the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule final rule are intended to clarify CMS’ position on how it interprets requirements for RPM services. This […]
Medicare telehealth expansion gets bipartisan stamp of approval from lawmakers
Telehealth technology has proved to be a reliable tool for Medicare providers throughout the pandemic, according to a bipartisan and bicameral group of 49 lawmakers who want to lock in those gains now. In a Dec. 4 letter, the lawmakers urge House and Senate leaders to use end-of-year legislation to permanently expand Medicare coverage of telehealth services. The letter […]
HHS Authorizes Some Telehealth Services Across State Lines–Temporarily
On December 3 the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services authorized health care practitioners licensed in other states to provide telehealth services across state lines for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency. This emergency measure only applies to practitioners who provide testing and treatment of COVID infections. It preempts state licensing laws that erect barriers […]
CMS Permanently Expands Telehealth As Far As Congress Has Allowed
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) expanded Medicare reimbursement for telehealth within the annual Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule for 2021. During the pandemic Public Health Emergency (PHE), CMS has temporarily reimbursed many telehealth services. In light of the success of unprecedented telehealth utilization during the PHE, more than 60 services have been […]
CMS Finalizes Proposed Cuts to Medicare Part B Therapy Services for 2021, Expands Telehealth Coverage
The federal government on Tuesday finalized its proposed physician fee schedule for the 2021 calendar year, formalizing cuts to Medicare reimbursement rates for therapy services provided to residents covered under Part B — while also expanding some telehealth flexibilities offered during COVID-19. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in August floated a 9% […]
CMS Finalizes Telehealth, RPM Coverage in 2021 Physician Fee Schedule
The agency has released its long-awaited final document on Medicare coverage for telehealth and remote patient monitoring services in the coming year, building upon trends seen during this year’s coronavirus pandemic. By Eric Wicklund December 02, 2020 – Telehealth and remote patient monitoring will see significant improvements in Medicare coverage in 2021. The long-awaited 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, unveiled […]