With growing demand for convenient and high quality physician care, CMS recently issued a final rule that eases restrictions on telemedicine services for Medicaid patients. Already available to Medicare patients, the new CMS rule allows a live video encounter to qualify as a face-to-face medical visit, which is required to be completed prior to providing home health services. Along with this rule, CMS noted that a more detailed guideline for telemedicine will soon follow.
Regarding the new telemedicine rule, CMS stated, “Our expectation is that care delivered using various technologies will lead to good outcomes and meet the needs of the individual while adhering to privacy requirements, including the requirements under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).”
Reimbursement for telemedicine services through Medicaid will continue to be approved on a voluntary, state-by-state basis.
Are you interested in expanding your practice with telemedicine? Explore the AASM’s new sleep-specific telemedicine platform, AASM SleepTM. Sign up for a half-day seminar at AASM Headquarters in Darien, IL, or join us for an online webinar to learn how you can navigate the platform to provide patient-centered, quality care to treat sleep diseases.
Read the final rule in the Federal Register: Medicaid Program; Face-to-Face Requirements for Home Health Services; Policy Changes and Clarifications Related to Home Health
