![]() ![]() For patients with compromised immune systems who are more vulnerable to the virus, being able to access care remotely can be a lifesaving option.ĪCCC recently hosted a webcast in which Teri Bedard, BA, RT(R)(T), CPC-the Director of Client Services at Revenue Cycle Coding Strategies LLC-discussed the rapid changes in the coverage of and billing for telehealth services stemming from the COVID-19 public health emergency. With the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic, telehealth has become an essential method of delivering care to many patients. A summary of the telehealth provisions in the second rule is available here. In light of this, several of the answers below have been updated to reflect the second Interim Final Rule. ![]() This Rule adds to and changes many of the recent telehealth coverage expansions with waivers of the provisions previously outlined by CMS in the wake of the declared Public Health Emergency (PHE). In addition, he explained that many patients in his region do not have the technology that would allow for telehealth visits with audio and video, including internet access.On April 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a second Interim Final Rule- COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers-in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Green Center found that just 42% of primary care clinicians reported receiving payments for most of their phone-based visits.īow stressed that audio-only visits are essential in the low-income and underserved community where he practices because many elderly patients are not “tech-savvy” enough to participate in video-based telehealth visits. Physicians were originally being reimbursed $14 to $41 per visit, but now receive about $46 to $110 per visit, approximately the same amount they would receive for an in-person visit, according to CMS.ĭespite this recent step to ensure payment parity for phone-based visits, a recent survey from the Primary Care Collaborative and the Larry A. Since then, CMS has expanded phone-based services covered by Medicare and Medicaid to include behavioral health and patient education services.ĬMS also increased reimbursement for these visits. It’s critical that we continue to treat those patients while keeping them home as much as possible while we’re facing the threat of COVID-19.” “This will benefit the many Medicare patients who only have landline or audio-only phones. “The change to allow Medicare to begin paying for telephone visits is particularly important,” Robert McLean, MD, MACP, president of the ACP, said in a press release. When CMS first announced it would expand coverage to certain audio-only telehealth visits, the decision was met with praise by professional organizations. Therefore, Bow stressed that audio-only telehealth visits are “a crucial option for my patients to prevent the worsening of their chronic health issues, as well as to reduce potentially avoidable ER visits.” “They have been allowing their medical issues to spiral out of control with that decreased access, which will only increase morbidity and mortality over time.” “Many patients are understandably fearful of the COVID-19 pandemic and have been avoiding coming into our primary care clinics.” Daniel Bow, DO, DPM, an internist at Baldwin Family Health Care in Baldwin, Michigan, told Healio Primary Care. If you continue to have this issue please contact to HealioĬMS recently announced it would expand Medicare coverage to include a range of services through audio-only telehealth visits, one of many changes the agency made to adapt patient care amid the COVID-19 pandemic. ![]()
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