Since mid-March, the AARC has pushed the Administration to include respiratory therapists as telehealth practitioners during the COVID-19 pandemic. Under their wavier authority, CMS announced that it would extend the types of practitioners who could furnish telehealth to those who could bill Medicare directly for their services. That, of course, left RTs out of the […]
The new telehealth-specific electronic clinical quality measures are to be used by eligible professionals and clinicians participating in CMS quality reporting programs such as MIPS and APMs. By Mike Miliard July 09, 2020 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has put together further detailed guidance for how healthcare providers should be documenting and reporting electronic […]
During the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has authorized new flexibility for medical residents and teaching physicians to rely on telehealth when caring for Medicare beneficiaries. For many types of services, it is no longer necessary for the patient, resident and supervising physician to all be in […]
The coronavirus could be the match that finally sparks the Medicare Advantage (MA) boom for home care. The explosion has been a long time coming. It all started when the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) first expanded the scope of MA supplemental benefits in April 2018. The move opened the door for MA […]
On July 2, 2020 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released guidance documents on the allowance of telehealth encounters for the Eligible Professional and Eligible Clinician electronic clinical quality measures (eCQMs) used in CMS quality reporting programs for the 2020 and 2021 performance periods. The guidance applies to eCQMs used in the: Quality […]
During this critical time, Home Health Care News remains committed to bringing you all the essential news related to home-based care operations. At the same time, we also recognize the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to our regular content, we’ll continue to highlight industry-related developments and mitigation strategies in this rolling bulletin. What […]
Telehealth policy is changing, thanks to COVID-19, but providers worry some changes won’t last. Regulatory telehealth policy changes enacted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the COVID-19 pandemic have greatly impacted telehealth use among providers. Now, healthcare stakeholders want those changes to remain […]
Medical associations, health systems, vendors and other stakeholders are asking Senate and House leaders to prioritize four areas when enshrining permanent changes to telemedicine regs. By Kat JercichJune 30, 2020 Three hundred and forty healthcare organizations published an open letter Monday asking Senate and House leaders to permanently enshrine changes to policies that would make telehealth accessible in […]
June 30, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic has forced healthcare systems around the world to make greater use of telehealth services during lockdown, and lawmakers in the US want to see if those changes could be permanent. Representative Robin Kelly (Democrat – Illinois) tabled a bill in the House on at the beginning of the month […]
Although providing services to patients virtually can improve provider efficiency, it’s important to consider individual technological capabilities. By Kat JercichJune 26, 2020 Home-based primary care allows individuals with chronic conditions – especially older people – to stay in their homes longer, so reducing hospitalization rates and improving quality of life. As the COVID-19 crisis has made […]
Friday, June 26th, 2020 WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 26, 2020)—The preview of the CY 2021 home health proposed rule, Medicare and Medicaid Programs; CY 2021 Home Health Prospective Payment System Rate Update; Home Health Quality Reporting Requirements; and Home Infusion Therapy Services Requirements, has been posted. The proposal is light compared to recent years’ proposed rules, but […]
By Bailey Bryant | June 25, 2020 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to make telehealth flexibilities for home health providers introduced in light of the coronavirus permanent. Yet providers would still be forced to provide the virtual care without payment. CMS detailed that proposal and others Thursday afternoon, along with its annual suggested update […]
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule [CMS-1730-P] that proposes routine updates to the home health payment rates for calendar year (CY) 2021, in accordance with existing statutory and regulatory requirements. This proposed rule also includes a proposal to make permanent the regulatory changes related to telecommunications technologies in […]
Virtual doctor visits should pay the same rate as in-office checkups even after the Covid-19 pandemic ends, telehealth advocates told a Senate health panel. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hosted a panel Wednesday to consider what recent telehealth changes to keep once the public health emergency ends. Various lawmakers including Chairman Lamar […]
By Sarah Blumenthal and Richard Harris The COVID-19 pandemic has stirred an urgent need for alternative approaches to patient health assessments, patient monitoring and patient education to reduce additional population exposure to the virus and ease the financial and psychological toll on health care providers and facilities. While some providers and payers utilized remote care management […]