Page 18 50 State Telemedicine Gaps Analysis Coverage and Reimbursement
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50 State Telemedicine Gaps Analysis: Coverage & Reimbursement
F. Distance or Geography Restrictions
Distance restrictions are measured in miles and designate the amount of distance necessary
between a distance site provider and patient as a condition of payment for telemedicine.
Geography is classified as rural, urban, metropolitan statistical area (MSA), defined population
size, or health professional shortage area (HPSA).
We measured components of state Medicaid policies that apply distance or geography
restrictions for conditions of coverage and payment when telemedicine is performed.
Scale – Medicaid: Distance &
Geography Restrictions
A 3 points
B 2 points
C 1 point
F 0 points
Over the past year, states have made considerable efforts to rescind mileage requirements for
covered telemedicine services. Michigan, and Nebraska successfully removed distance
requirements. Indiana has statutory authority to remove their mileage requirements for all
distance site providers but chooses to enforce the mileage requirement for some eligible
providers. Earlier this year, Ohio Medicaid approved a regulation that would expand coverage of
telemedicine services, and includes a five mile distance restriction as a condition of payment.
Figure 9
Eighty-two percent of the states cover telemedicine services state-wide without distance
restrictions or geographic designations (Figure 9). This evidence dispels the misconception that
telemedicine is only appropriate for rural settings only.
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American Telemedicine Association
2015
