Since 2020, telehealth services have seen many changes, but there were some significant changes to telehealth in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. Below, we will discuss these changes in detail:
- CMS added health and wellness coaching to the services that can be provided via telehealth on a temporary basis.
- CMS is delaying the requirement for an in-person visit with the physician or practitioner within six months of initiating mental health telehealth services.
- CMS is extending the current flexibility for periodic assessments for Opioid Treatment Programs (“OPT”) to be furnished via audio only through December 31, 2024.
- CMS will continue to define direct supervision to permit the presence and immediate availability of the supervising provider to be met via real-time interactive audio/video. This extension will continue through the end of CY 2024.
- CMS finalized an exception for residency training sites located outside of a metropolitan statistical area (“MSA”) so that the teaching physician could be present through audio/video real-time communication.
- CMS finalized a policy to continue allowing teaching physicians to use real-time audio/video communication to be present during Resident telehealth services in all residency locations. This will be in place until the end of Cy 2024.
- Beginning with CY 2024 CMS will begin to pay telehealth services provided to patients in their homes at the non-facility rate.
- CMS is expanding their definition of telehealth provider to now include occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists, and audiologists.
- CMS added the new Social Determinants of Health Assessment services to the telehealth list on a permanent basis.
These are just some of the notable changes for telehealth from the 2024 Final Rule. Be sure to review the complete Final Rule for yourself at the link cited below for more information.
Keeping up with the rapidly changing rules of telehealth can be exhausting. PERCS is here to help you navigate guidelines to remain compliant. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact Angie Wood, CPC, Sr. Physician Auditor and Educator at AWood@AskPHC.com or Lori Carlin, CPC, COC, CPCO, CCS, CRC, Principal, at LCarlin@AskPHC.com. They will be readily available to answer your questions and provide expert advice, so you are well equipped to move forward!
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