![Page 1: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
14Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Telehealth Reimbursement Policies
During COVID-19: Federal & State
Mei Kwong, JD
Executive Director
Center for Connected Health Policy
Sacramento, CA
![Page 2: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
15Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Polling Question #1
Please use the polling function to help us learn more about you to
better tailor next week’s Office Hours.
![Page 3: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
16Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Polling Question #2
Please use the polling function to help us learn more about you to
better tailor next week’s Office Hours.
![Page 4: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
17Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
CCHP Projects
• 50 State Telehealth Policy Report
• Administrator National Consortium
of Telehealth Resource Centers
• Convener for California Telehealth
Policy Coalition
![Page 5: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
18Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
National Consortium of TRCs
![Page 6: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
19Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
COVID-19 has changed
the landscape for
telehealth dramatically
![Page 7: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
20Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Telehealth Reimbursement Policy
Federal State
![Page 8: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
21Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Telehealth Reimbursement Policy
What, who and how one gets reimbursed depends on a variety of factors including:
• What payer is covering the service (Medicare, Medicaid, a commercial payer?)
• What type of provider is providing the service?
• What does the law say?
• What do regulations say?
![Page 9: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
22Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Telehealth Policy Landscape in the US
• Patchwork quilt among the states
• State and Federal policies differ
![Page 10: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
23Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Documentation vs. Coding vs. Billing
Documentation provide you with the
information you need to get reimbursed
For coding you take the information
necessary from the service provided in
order to determine which medical is right
to use.
For billing those codes are used to create
claims and bills that are sent to the
insurer or client.
![Page 11: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
24Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Existing Telehealth Policy
Much of the telehealth policy
that exists revolves around
reimbursement, what gets paid.
The policy is further broken
down into who, what, where and
how.
WHERE:LOCATION
HOW:MODALITY
WHO:PROVIDER
WHAT:SERVICE
![Page 12: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
25Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Existing Telehealth Policy Before COVID-19
Some of these limitations are in
federal law though some
changes can be made
Administratively
ISSUE AREA MEDICARE POLICY
Where: Patient Location Rural or non-MSA Area, set list of
eligible facilities with limited
services offered in the home.
What: Services that are covered Specific list of services,
approximately 90 CPT/HCPCS
Codes
Who: Providers allowed to use
telehealth
Limited list of nine types of health
professionals
How: What modality can be used? Live video only unless in a
demonstration program located in
Alaska or Hawaii
![Page 13: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
26Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Telehealth Policy Changes in COVID-19
• DEA – PHE prescribing exception/allowed phone for suboxone for OUD
• HIPAA – OCR will not fine during this time
MEDICARE ISSUE CHANGE
Geographic Limit Waived
Site limitation Waived
Provider List Expanded
Services Eligible Added additional 80 codes
Visit limits Waived certain limits
Modality Live Video, Phone, some srvs
Supervision requirements Relaxed some
Licensing Relaxed requirements
Tech-Enabled/Comm-Based (not
considered telehealth, but uses
telehealth technology)
More codes eligible for phone &
allowed PTs/OTs/SLPs & other use
Federal State
MEDICAID ISSUE CHANGE
Modality Allowing phone
Location Allowing home
Consent Relaxed consent requirements
Services Expanded types of services eligible
Providers Allowed other providers such as
allied health pros
Licensing Waived some requirements
• Private payer orders range from encouragement to cover telehealth to more
explicit mandates
• Relaxed some health information protections
![Page 14: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
27Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Telehealth Policy Changes in COVID-19
SUBJECT AREA POLICY DURING COVID-19 POLICY FQHC/RHC
Geographic/Site location for patient No geographic restrictions, patient allowed to be in
home during telehealth interaction
No geographic restrictions, patient allowed to be in
home during telehealth interaction
Services Approximately 240 different codes available for
reimbursement if provided via telehealth. List
available HERE.
Can only provide the services on THIS list via
telehealth and be reimbursed by Medicare.
Modality Live Video. Phone will be allowed for codes audio-
only telephone E/M services and behavioral health
counseling and educational services. Other
modalities allowed for Communications Based
Services
Live Video. Phone will be allowed for codes that are
audio-only telephone E/M services and behavioral
health counseling and educational services. Other
modalities allowed for Communications Based
Services
Type of provider All health care professionals to bill Medicare for
their professional services.
Temporarily added to list of eligible providers by
CARES Act
![Page 15: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
28Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
CY 2021 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule
• Proposal to make some of the temporary Medicare telehealth changes permanent
Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list
Proposed to allow some of the services to remain around temporarily until the end of the year the PHE is over
Request for comments on relaxing some of the supervision requirements
Clarifies that PTs, OTs, SLPs, clinical social workers, and clinical psychologists can furnish brief online
assessment and managements services, virtual check-ins and remote evals
Some modifications to remote physiologic monitoring
![Page 16: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
29Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Medicaid Reimbursement by Service Modality (Fee-for-Service)
Live Video50 States and DC
Store and ForwardOnly in 16 States
Remote Patient Monitoring23 States
As of February 2020
![Page 17: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
30Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Reimbursement Requirements for Private Payers
42 states and DChave telehealth private payer laws
Some go into effect at a later date.
Parity is difficult
to determine:
Parity in services covered vs. parity in payment
Many states make their telehealth private payer laws
“subject to the terms and conditions of the contract”
As of February 2020
![Page 18: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
31Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
State Policy Changes in Response to COVID-19
• Common telehealth policy changes
Allowing home to be an eligible originating site
Allowing telephone to be used to provide services
o Note: May only allow G2012/G2010
Requiring health plans, managed care and private to cover telehealth services and offer parity
![Page 19: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
32Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
State Policy Changes in Response to COVID-19
• Less common telehealth policy changes
Expanding use of other modalities besides phone
Expanding the list of eligible providers to include others such as allied health professionals
Waiving consent requirements, usual an adjustment made such as allowing it to be verbal consent
![Page 20: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
33Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
CCHP
• CCHP Website – cchpca.org
Telehealth Federal Policies - https://www.cchpca.org/resources/covid-19-telehealth-coverage-policies
State Emergency Waivers/Guidances - https://www.cchpca.org/resources/covid-19-related-state-actions
• Subscribe to the CCHP newsletter at cchpca.org/contact/subscribe
![Page 21: Telehealth Reimbursement Policies During COVID-19: Federal ... Hack Session 3...Aug 19, 2020 · Included some of the services allowed during COVID-19 to be on permanent list Proposed](https://reader036.vdocuments.us/reader036/viewer/2022062609/60ffe38f91152e7e175f5397/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
34Saving Lives. Protecting Americans.
Your Telemedicine Questions,
Answered
Please submit your questions through the Q&A box