Payment for Telehealth and Telephone Consultations During COVID-19 – ACP Chapter Toolkit
Summary
To help ensure access to care, during the COVID-19 health emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has lifted many of the Medicare barriers to telehealth by expanding coverage and paying for telehealth services at in person rates. CMS is also paying for telephone (audio-only) calls but at a lower rate. Patients can be at home and non-HIPAA compliant technology is allowed. In addition, to encourage use by patients, Medicare is allowing practices to waive cost-sharing (copays) for all telehealth services, and many of the prior authorization activities are being paused.