COVID-19 Changes in Coverage and Reimbursement for a Range of Telehealth Services

Because of COVID-19, CMS issued an emergency waiver of certain telehealth requirements, and made additional changes in coverage and reimbursement for a range of telehealth services. Physicians can be paid for the performance of certain telephone visits for both new and established patients; telehealth services no longer need to be provided only in rural settings only; additional telehealth visits may be performed more frequently than previously; nursing home residents may be “visited” using telehealth instead of requiring in-person visits; and direct supervision for services may be provided virtually using real-time audio-video technology. These and other changes are shifting how care is provided to patients for the duration of the federal COVID-19 emergency declaration (still in effect, as of November, 2020). In a video interview, Dan discusses how COVID-19 and increased usage of telemedicine has changed how health care practitioners are caring for their patients now, as well as what may come in the future, in a video interview with Infection Control Today. As he has observed, with health care providers forced to meet with patients remotely, the health care industry is learning just how effective and efficient telemedicine can be. As a result, it is likely that telemedicine will become more widely covered and, hopefully, reimbursed at equal rates in comparison with in-person visits. Watch the 15 minute interview for more of Dan’s thoughts on this issue.