Policy changes during COVID-19

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 extended many of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities authorized during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Please check with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid for any updates.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published policy updates for Medicare telehealth services.

• Medicare Clinician Services:
  • CMS clarified that temporary telehealth services added during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) will continue either for an extension period of 151 days after the end of the PHE or through the end of Calendar Year 2023.
  • Telehealth services provided in the office setting will continue to be paid at the non-facility rate (higher payment) through the end of the year in which the PHE ends or the end of Calendar Year 2023.
  • CMS will not implement new codes for remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) as initially proposed.
• Medicare Hospital Outpatient Services: CMS finalized a permanent policy allowing clinical staff of hospital outpatient departments including Critical Access Hospitals to provide remote behavioral health services to patients in their homes.
• Home Health Agencies: CMS is adding new billing codes for Home Health telecommunications technology. Agencies may voluntarily report the codes starting January 1, 2023 but must report these codes starting July 1, 2023.