2016 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Rules Include Telehealth Codes For New Originating Sites

Starting in January 2016, Medicare will reimburse for telehealth services provided in settings not previously eligible as originating sites; however the rural setting rules still apply. The new sites include rural inpatient or hospital observation settings, and the beneficiary’s home if the beneficiary lives in a rural area and is receiving in-home dialysis for end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Previously, Medicare only reimbursed for telehealth services provided in outpatient settings to beneficiaries located in rural regions.

New Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes for the new originating sites were included in “Medicare Program; Revisions to Payment Policies under the . . .