As payer and provider organizations look to improve health outcomes around the far-reaching impacts of the pandemic, they must consider the unique needs of some of our most vulnerable populations, such as new and expecting mothers and their infants. As a byproduct of the COVID-19 pandemic, the healthcare industry is faced with a formidable challenge—how […]
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has further expanded the list of telehealth services that Medicare Fee-For-Service will pay for during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) as of October 14, 2020. CMS is adding 11 new services to the Medicare telehealth services list and will begin paying eligible practitioners who furnish these services […]
Bills introduced in both the Senate and House last week call for Medicare coverage for home health care services provided via telehealth during a public health emergency. By Eric Wicklund October 26, 2020 – A new bill before Congress aims to improve Medicare coverage for home health services delivered via telehealth during a public health emergency. The Home […]
The COVID-19 pandemic is driving enormous demand for virtual mental health care services. Teletherapy providers have seen record uptake since March, and the need for mental health support appears to be growing as patients confront the stress of the pandemic and social crises. Ginger, which offers text-based mental health coaching, teletherapy and psychiatry, reports that utilization […]
On October 14, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the list of telehealth services that Medicare Fee-For-Service will pay for during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency. According to CMS, the agency is also providing additional support to state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in their efforts to […]
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 and […]
On October 14, 2020, CMS added eleven (11) new services to its Medicare telehealth list that are payable during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). This latest expansion of telehealth services is the first to use the new, expedited process that CMS established in May 2020. CMS has also announced additional support to state Medicaid […]
States could take a two-pronged approach to extend Medicaid telephonic or audio-only coverage beyond the pandemic, according to Jacqueline Marks, a manager with the Manatt Health division of the Manatt, Phelps & Phillips law firm. Under the approach, included in a list of suggested policy actions she drafted, states would: 1) Create a policy that allows coverage […]
As home health and home care operators move toward the ninth month of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s important to take stock of what has been accomplished from a policy perspective. Many of 2020’s regulatory changes will be fleeting, but others will shape the future of post-acute care for years to come. That was the message […]
On October 14, CMS announced several changes designed to expand access to telehealth. CMS made further additions to the list of services that Medicare will pay for practitioners to furnish through telehealth for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) (“Medicare Telehealth List”). Additionally, CMS provided data and resources to support telehealth efforts […]
On October 14, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded the list of telehealth services covered by Medicare during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. CMS also announced it would be providing additional support to state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in delivering telehealth services. CMS added the telehealth services using, for […]
Jacqueline Marks, a manager with the Manatt Health division of Manatt, Phelps & Philips, has drafted a list of suggested policy actions that states could take to extend Medicaid telehealth coverage beyond the pandemic. By Eric Wicklund October 20, 2020 – With most state governments enacting emergency measures to improve Medicaid coverage for telehealth services during the coronavirus […]
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, state Medicaid agencies have temporarily expanded their telehealth coverage and reimbursement policies in varying degrees. States, providers, advocates and families recognize the important role that telehealth has played in maintaining access to care during the pandemic and are now turning to the difficult work of evaluating which components of […]
On October 14, 2020, CMS added eleven new codes to the list of telehealth services covered by Medicare during to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). Coverage for these new services is effective immediately and will continue, on a temporary basis, for the duration of the PHE. The PHE was recently extended through January 20, 2021. CMS […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced it is adding 11 new telehealth services that Medicare will reimburse. This is the first addition to the Medicare telehealth services list since May 1, 2020. Per CMS, Medicare will begin paying eligible caregivers who furnish these newly added telehealth services — effective immediately — […]