Chris Loumeau and Ilana Price of ECG Management Consultants explain how the federal telehealth guidelines are affecting medicare beneficiaries.
Editor's note: This article originally appeared on ECG Management Consultant's website.
As the nation comes to terms with the possibility of widespread COVID-19 infections, announcements about new guidelines and regulation changes are being made daily. The first COVID-19 relief bill (H.R. 6074), signed by President Trump on March 6 and summarized here by ECG, expanded access to telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries, reduced restrictions related to the originating site of care, and provided the ability to receive a telehealth screening via smartphone. On March 17, the president and CMS announced additional clarification and guidance for H.R. 6074 that will be critical for providers interested in using telehealth to screen for and treat COVID-19.
Expansion of Telehealth with 1135 Waiver
One noteworthy limitation of the March 6 legislation was that in order for a Medicare beneficiary to receive telehealth services, they were required to have an established relationship with the provider. The patient also needed to have received a Medicare-covered service within the last three years from the provider or another provider in the same practice. Continue here>>
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