Some health systems have started pausing telehealth visits for Medicare beneficiaries as the government shutdown continues.
Pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities ended Oct. 1 with the federal government stoppage, cutting off CMS reimbursement for many virtual visits.
While many health systems are still waiting for a resolution between Congress and President Donald Trump, some organizations have begun to suspend telehealth access for Medicare and Medicaid patients. The American Telemedicine Association estimates that about 30% of hospitals and health systems have halted their Medicare telehealth offerings amid the shutdown.
“Providence proactively prepared for telehealth services to return to prepandemic guidelines, which limited the type of telehealth services that qualify for reimbursement, including restrictions for audio-only visits, types of service and sites of service,” a spokesperson for the 51-hospital system based in Renton, Wash., told Becker’s. “Due to this change, some Medicare patients are being asked to come in for appointments that were originally scheduled as telehealth to ensure their care is covered.”
New York City-based NYU Langone Health posted a notice on its website: “Due to the federal government shutdown, Medicare and Medicaid patients are unable to schedule new telehealth/video visits. If you already have a visit scheduled, it will continue as planned. If not, contact your doctor’s office to schedule an in-person appointment.”
Omaha-based Nebraska Medicine is reaching out to Medicare patients with telehealth visits scheduled after Oct. 13 to switch to in-person or pay out of pocket. About a third have canceled their virtual appointments, with most of those seeking to reschedule in person.
“Our health system, like many others, wants to see these Medicare telehealth flexibilities permanently extended,” said Michael Hasselberg, PhD, RN, chief transformation and digital officer of Nebraska Medicine. “This disruption is causing confusion and delays in care for our patients and a considerable administrative burden for our staff. Telehealth is vital for our patients across the state and the region.”
San Diego-based Scripps Health has rescheduled more than 400 Medicare telehealth appointments as in-person visits since Oct. 1, while another 600-plus have remained virtual because they’re part of the health system’s ACO, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
“Some Medicare patients no longer eligible for a telehealth visit elect to keep their telehealth appointment with the knowledge Medicare is not currently covering the visit — and they may be financially responsible,” Shane Thielman, senior vice president and chief information and digital officer of Scripps Health, emailed the newspaper.
Edgewood, Ky.-based St. Elizabeth Healthcare is also working to move Medicare telehealth patients to in-person visits and telling those who wish to keep their appointments virtual that they may be billed, WCPO reported.
A spokesperson for New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest municipal health system, said it is “continuing telehealth appointments as usual for all patients, including those on Medicaid and Medicare.” Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham and Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health said they are maintaining telehealth access as well.
Some health systems say they’re still assessing the situation. “Our goal is to minimize interruptions to the care our patients are receiving,” a Cleveland Clinic spokesperson told Becker’s. “We are continuing to monitor this and are committed to the delivery of healthcare in compliance with regulatory guidelines.”
At the same time, others are anticipating back pay from CMS if and when the shutdown ends.
“We’re hopeful our government leaders will come to a solution quickly to protect the availability of telehealth care, which has served as a lifeline for patients in recent years, particularly those in parts of our country where access to certain healthcare services is not readily available,” a spokesperson for Chesterfield, Mo.-based Mercy, a 50-hospital system, told Becker’s. “Mercy remains committed to providing telehealth to our patients and hopes to receive reimbursement retroactively when the government reopens.”
