Telehealth policy updates
Telehealth policies continue to evolve. Read about recent Federal legislation and policies related to telehealth.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued the Calendar Year 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule extending many of the telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2024. For more information, read telehealth policies and billing for telehealth.
Rural health
Many of the telehealth flexibilities for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) are extended until December 31, 2024 under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023.
Rural Emergency Hospitals (REHs) were added as eligible Medicare originating sites for telehealth. This allows patients to be located at an REH when receiving telehealth services. The REH needs to meet the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) “rural” classification to bill Medicare as an originating site.
Sources: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (PDF), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (PDF)
Behavioral health
Medicare patients can receive telehealth services for behavioral health care in their homes in any part of the country. This includes most behavioral health services, such as counseling, psychotherapy, and psychiatric evaluations.
The in-person visit requirements before a patient may be eligible for telebehavioral health care services is delayed through December 31, 2024.
Sources: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (PDF), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (PDF), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (PDF)
Extensions of telehealth access options
Medicare beneficiaries
Many of the telehealth flexibility waivers are extended, including geographic and originating site restrictions so that Medicare patients can continue to use telehealth services from their home and allowing audio-only telehealth services through December 31, 2024.
Additionally, the list of providers eligible to deliver telehealth services is expanded through December 31, 2024.
Sources: Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (PDF), Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022 (PDF)