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Final Policy, Payment, and Quality Provisions Changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2021
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 […]
CMS Finalizes Permanent Expansion of Medicare Telehealth Services and Improved Payment for Time Doctors Spend with Patients
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 […]
New Telehealth Bill Would Penalize States Who Don’t Join Licensure Compact
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 […]
Diving into the Home Health Emergency Access to Telehealth (HEAT) Act
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. […]
ACHP: Solidify Telehealth Flexibilities, COVID-19 Test Funding
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 […]
Telehealth not enough to offset crushing demand for mental health services
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 […]
Verma: Older Adults Must Have a ‘More Robust’ Set of Home Care Options
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 […]
Telehealth Gets a Boost Among Medicare Recipients in Pandemic
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 […]
AMA Adopts Policy to Expand Access to Telehealth
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 […]
AMA plans to push for more telehealth ‘throughout the pandemic and beyond’
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 […]
9 barriers for patients accessing telehealth
The lack of access to technology and broadband internet are the most frequently cited barriers that physicians perceive as preventing their patients from participating in telehealth, according to the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition. For its Telehealth Impact Study, the COVID-19 Healthcare Coalition surveyed 1,594 physicians and other healthcare professionals across the U.S. about their virtual care adoption practices, […]
Congress Eyes Permanent Medicare Coverage for Telehealth from Therapists
A bill introduced this week would permanently extend Medicare coverage for telehealth services delivered by physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists and audiologists. By Eric Wicklund November 18, 2020 – A group of lawmakers has introduced a bill that would ensure Medicare coverage for telehealth services provided by physical and occupational therapists, audiologists and speech and […]
Reps. Sherrill, McKinley Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Telehealth Services
Legislation expands practitioners eligible for Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services WASHINGTON, DC — Representatives Mike Sherrill (NJ-11), Rep. David McKinley (WV-01), Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Rep. Denver Riggleman (VA-05), Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Rep. Andre Carson (IN-07), Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA-15), Rep. Andy Kim (NJ-03), Rep. Joseph Morelle (NY-25), Rep. Bobby Rush (IL-01), Rep. Albio Sires […]