COVID-19: Telehealth and Non-Essential Procedures
On March 18, the Centers for Medicare
& Medicaid Services (CMS) released two comprehensive toolkits on
telehealth that are specific to general practitioners as well as
providers treating patients with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Under President Trump’s leadership to
respond to the need to limit the spread of COVID-19, CMS has broadened
access to Medicare telehealth services so that beneficiaries can receive
a wider range of services from their doctors without having to travel to
a healthcare facility. CMS is expanding this benefit on a temporary and
emergency basis under the 1135 waiver authority and Coronavirus
Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act. Under this new
waiver, Medicare can pay for office, hospital, and other visits furnished
via telehealth across the country and including in patient’s places of
residence starting March 6, 2020. A range of providers, such as doctors,
nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social
workers, will be able to offer telehealth to their patients. These
benefits are part of the broader effort by CMS and the White House Task
Force to ensure that all Americans – particularly those at high-risk of
complications from the virus that causes the disease COVID-19 are aware
of easy-to-use, accessible benefits that can help keep them healthy while
helping to contain the community spread of this virus.
Each toolkit contains electronic links to
reliable sources of information on telehealth and telemedicine, which
will reduce the amount of time providers spend searching for answers and
increase their time with patients. Many of these links will help providers
learn about the general concept of telehealth, choose telemedicine
vendors, initiate a telemedicine program, monitor patients remotely, and
develop documentation tools. Additionally, the information contained
within each toolkit will also outline temporary virtual services that
could be used to treat patients during this specific period of time.
CMS continues to monitor the developing
COVID-19 situation and assess options to bring relief to
clinicians. To keep up with the important work the Task Force is
doing in response to COVID-19 visit the coronavirus.gov webpage. For
complete and updated information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
On March 18, at the White House Task
Force Press Briefing, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) announced that all elective surgeries, non-essential medical,
surgical, and dental procedures be delayed during the 2019 Novel
Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
These recommendations, and earlier CMS
guidance and actions in response to the COVID-19 virus, are part of the
ongoing White House Task Force efforts. To keep up with the important
work the Task Force is doing in response to COVID-19, visit the coronavirus.gov webpage for further
information. For a complete and updated list of CMS actions, and other
information specific to CMS, please visit the Current Emergencies Website.
The
Medicare Learning Network®, MLN Connects®, and MLN Matters®
are registered
trademarks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS).
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