CMS will cover virtual care for the first time
Medicare will pay for certain communication technology-based services, the remote evaluation of recorded video and/or images and an expanded list of telehealth services.
One of the adjustments involves telehealth.
Through the rule, CMS is also expanding the number of Medicare-covered telemedicine services to include “prolonged preventive service(s).”
Last Friday, CMS issued a different proposed rule regarding telehealth and Medicare Advantage. The changes would allow Medicare Advantage plans to offer “additional telehealth benefits” not otherwise available in Medicare to enrollees and would be effective in plan year 2020.