July 16, 2018 by David Raths To get around legal restrictions on telehealth reimbursement, CMS expands its definition of ‘communication technology–based services’ Among all the proposed changes the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rolled out last week, ones related to telehealth drew considerable interest. Although it can’t use its regulatory power to change […]
Many health IT industry groups, policy experts and other industry stakeholders continue to delve into the 1,473-page proposed rule released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on July 12 that provides updates to the Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program (QPP), which encapsulates the Medicare Incentive-based Payment Program (MIPS) and Advanced […]
Wednesday, July 18, 2018 Two federal agencies – the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) and the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) – announced separate initiatives last week that stand to increase patient access to telehealth services. Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2019. The CY 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (the “Proposed […]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its new proposed Physician Fee Schedule and Qualified Payment Program updates for 2019, and the announcement includes some big strides forward in promoting digital health technology, including widened telemedicine coverage, an overhaul of documentation requirements, and a new focus on interoperability. “Today is a huge win for […]
by Joanne Finnegan | Jul 13, 2018 8:21am The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule on Thursday making what officials called “historic changes” to the Medicare program aimed at restoring the doctor-patient relationship. The federal agency issued the 1,473 page proposed rule (PDF) to update the Medicare physician fee schedule and […]
Date 2018-07-12 Title Proposed Policy, Payment, and Quality Provisions Changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2019 Contact press@cms.hhs.gov Proposed Policy, Payment, and Quality Provisions Changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for Calendar Year 2019 On July 12, 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule […]
Virtual Visits for Established Patients The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), for the first time, has proposed payment for virtual visits to established patients regardless of such patients’ location, effective January 1, 2019. The new service is described in CMS’ Notice of Proposed Rulemaking entitled Revisions to Payment Policies under the Physician Fee […]
Some very good news for the telehealth community can be found amidst the more than 1,400 pages of the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2019 (“Proposed Rule”) issued by CMS yesterday. Finally, CMS acknowledges just how far behind Medicare has lagged in recognizing and paying for physician services furnished via communications technology. Virtual Check-In The longstanding […]
By Jodi G. Daniel and Maya Uppaluru on July 13, 2018 Posted in Digital Health CMS has issued its 2019 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule, containing highly anticipated new reimbursement policies for telehealth, remote monitoring, and other uses of digital tools, as well as updates to health IT requirements in the Quality Payment Program, […]
By Virgil Dickson | July 12, 2018 (Updated at 7 p.m. ET) The CMS on Thursday proposed paying doctors for virtual visits and overhauling Medicare billing standards it has had in place since the 1990s. In a lengthy proposed rule, the agency said it would pay doctors for their time when they reach out to beneficiaries […]
CMS is also removing 34 process measures from MIPS as these measures are topped out, meaning physicians are already performing highly in these areas. Susan Morse, Senior Editor The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Thursday proposed a new rule to allow payments for virtual care done through such means as audio or video […]
Date 2018-07-12 Title CMS Proposes Historic Changes to Modernize Medicare and Restore the Doctor-Patient Relationship Contact press@cms.hhs.gov CMS Proposes Historic Changes to Modernize Medicare and Restore the Doctor-Patient Relationship Proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program would streamline clinician billing and expand access to high-quality care Today, the Centers for […]
CMS’ proposed 2019 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program includes coverage of telehealth-based check-in services and support for remote patient monitoring programs. By Eric Wicklund July 13, 2018 – The federal government is once again moving toward acceptance of telehealth and remote patient monitoring with new rules on how Medicare reimburses providers for their […]
Telemedicine might date back to the very first phone call ever placed. On March 10, 1876, Alexander Graham Bell voiced his now famous first words, “Mr. Watson, come here, I want you.” Watson would later circulate a rumor that Bell placed that first call for medical assistance after having spilled the phone’s battery acid on […]
By Tim Mullaney | July 12, 2018 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to expand Medicare coverage for telehealth services and to make it easier for physicians to provide care through in-person home visits. The policy changes were floated in a proposed rule issued Thursday, regarding payment policies, rates and quality […]