More telehealth services proposed for Medicare
More telehealth services could soon become available to Medicare beneficiaries.
Annual wellness visits and psychotherapy are two of the four services the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing to add to the list of services that can be provided to Medicare beneficiaries via telehealth, according to a proposed update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for the 2015 calendar year. The proposed rule is scheduled for publication in the July 11 Federal Register.
Annual wellness visits, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis and "prolonged evaluation and management services" would be covered as Category 1 services under the proposed rule. These services are "similar to professional consultations, office visits and office psychiatry services" currently covered by the agency. Wellness visits, CMS says, would include a personalized prevention plan of service, an initial visit and a subsequent visit.
The prolonged evaluation and management services, according to CMS, would include "prolonged service in the office or other outpatient setting" that require direct patient contact beyond usual care.
Comments on the proposal will be accepted through Sept. 2. Read the proposed rule.
Editor
Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.