HIMSS, a global advocate for digital health transformation, supports a proposed extension of coverage for telehealth services through Dec. 31, 2024. The reimbursement, at the non-facility rate, was originally scheduled to cease when the federal government ended the COVID-19 public health emergency on May 11, 2023. More than 150 million people live in federally designated […]
Learn What’s New for FY 2024 CMS issued FY 2024 Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and Long Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System (LTCH PPS) final rules to update IPPS hospital and LTCH Medicare payment policies. See a summary of key provisions effective October 1, 2023. On January 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced its intent to end the national […]
WASHINGTON, DC, AUGUST 29, 2023 — The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and ATA Action submitted comments in response to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) CY2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the PFS, and other Medicare Part B issues. The ATA and ATA Action commend CMS for extending most of the telehealth flexibilities implemented […]
The American Telemedicine Association and affiliate ATA Action are voicing support for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposed rule for the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule, which the advocates note extends into the new year the telehealth flexibilities put forward during the COVID-19 public health emergency. “The proposed rule is, overall, positive for the telehealth community and patients, and […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended a COVID-19 pandemic-era waiver that will allow home- and community-based service (HCBS) providers to take advantage of flexibilities in their state programs. The Appendix K waiver allowed HCBS providers more wiggle room during emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. CMS introduced the waiver to […]
2023: New Federal Developments There were no new federal developments in the last month. 2023: New State-Level Developments State Activity Illinois Illinois passed S.B. 1913, which requires Medicaid FFS and Medicaid managed care plans to provide coverage of mental health services, substance use disorder treatment, and ‘behavioral telehealth services’. Requires Medicaid FFS and Medicaid managed care plans […]
At a Glance The annual Medicare physician payment rule is upon us, proposed July 13, 2023, for calendar year (CY) 2024 and open for public comment through September 11. Each year, the couple-of-thousand-page rule makes modifications to how Medicare pays physician and nonphysician providers for their services, including for telehealth services. In recent years, the physician […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the calendar year (CY) 2024 Revisions to Payment Policies Under the Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Other Revisions to Medicare Part B (CMS-1784-P) Proposed Rule, which includes proposals related to Medicare physician payment and the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The Proposed Rule, released on July […]
CMS recently released the CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) Proposed Rule (Proposed Rule), which included many noteworthy proposals and clarifications related to Medicare telehealth services and other remote services. Since the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) terminated on May 11, 2023, providers and practitioners have sought clarity on the end dates of various waivers and […]
Telehealth changes that helped physicians and patients during the COVID-19 pandemic could become permanent under a new bill pending in Congress. Meanwhile, another leading physician group is supporting site-neutral payment for medical services. The two issues have sparked renewed discussion this month due to proposals by federal policy makers. CONNECT in Congress A bipartisan group of 60 […]
2023: New Federal Developments New Item Activity S. 1699: Tech to Save Moms ActIntroduced May 18, 2023 This bill would require 1) the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation to test payment and delivery models regarding the adoption and use of telehealth tools for screening, monitoring, and managing health complications during the pregnancies of Medicaid beneficiaries, […]
Tuesday, June 6, 2023 Telehealth experienced massive growth during the COVID-19 pandemic, due in no small part to various regulatory and reimbursement policies that federal agencies implemented following a declaration by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in early 2020 that the COVID-19 pandemic was a public health emergency (PHE). Although the […]
The COVID-19 public health emergency declared by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) expired earlier this month. But that doesn’t mean the deadly respiratory illness has disappeared, warned Deb Houry, MD, MPH, chief medical officer and deputy director for program and science at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). COVID-19 and […]
2023: New Federal Developments New Item Activity OIG Report: Medicare Improperly Paid Providers for Some Psychotherapy Services, Including those Provided via Telehealth, During the First Year of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE)Released May 2023 The Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) released a report detailing findings […]