CMS has released additional guidance on COVID-19 and Medicare Part B. You can read more here.
Here are a few important additional updates:
Medicare Advantage plans may provide their enrollees with access to Medicare Part B services via telehealth in any geographic area and from a variety of places, including beneficiaries’ homes. Medicare Advantage Organizations can expand coverage of telehealth services beyond those approved by CMS.
It is essential to verify with all insurances ahead of time whether or not they cover telehealth. If an insurance company says they will not cover telehealth, you can choose to see the patient via telehealth and appeal if the visit does end up being denied. This is a fluid situation and the insurance company is likely updating their policies in real-time. You can also offer patients self-pay for telehealth services.
The Coronavirus-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet lists multiple waivers that will help providers see patients in a more efficient and timely manner. This temporarily waives requirements for out of state providers to see patients and postpones revalidation requirements. You can read more here.
We will do our best to provide any updates from CMS and commercial insurance companies as they are released. The safety and health of your patients and of your teams is our main concern and we will continue to be in communication as this situation moves forward.