Due to the ongoing government shutdown, the AASM has submitted a letter to congressional leaders outlining the disruption caused by the recent expiration of telehealth flexibilities. The letter includes recommendations to reinstate these flexibilities and enact retroactive reimbursement for these services.
Key requests are:
- Promptly reinstate Medicare telehealth flexibilities that have been in place since 2020.
- Enact retroactive reimbursement for telehealth services rendered during the shutdown.
- Clarify that telemedicine documentation is valid and sufficient for durable medical equipment (DME) orders and renewals.
- Preserve the ability of qualified health care professionals to conduct telemedicine visits from home-based offices when clinically appropriate.
The AASM will continue advocating for patients with sleep disorders and sleep medicine professionals as the government shutdown continues. Members may send questions about this communication to coding@aasm.org.
