CMS Expands Access To Telehealth Services During COVID-19, Raises Audio-Only Rates

On April 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued regulatory changes to further expand beneficiary access to telehealth services in their homes for the duration of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) public health emergency. CMS is waiving limitations on the types of clinical professionals and provider organizations that can furnish Medicare telehealth services, and is raising reimbursement rates for audio-only telephone services. CMS will reimburse for Medicare telehealth services provided by rural health clinics and federally qualified health centers.

Prior to this change, only physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical . . .