OMNIBUSBILL EXTENDS PHETELEHEALTH FLEXIBILITIES

The Omnibus Appropriations Bill (H R 26 passed on December 23, 2022, extended Medicare coverage of telehealth service flexibilities that were permitted during the Public Health Emergency through December 31, 2024.

https://www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/JRQ121922.PDF

Before publishing the 2023 Medicare Telehealth Services file, CMSreviewed telehealth services added during the Public Health Emergency. For each service, CMS determined each would be extended through the remainder of 2023, or the providers would be required to stop providing the service through telehealth five months after the PHEends

The Omnibus bill includes health provisions that extend those telehealth services through the end of the year 2024.

Included in Sec. 4113 of the Omnibus ? Advancing telehealth Beyond COVID-19, the 151-day period was replaced with the period beginning on the first day after the end of the PHEand ending on December 31, 2024

Extended Flexibilities include:

- The expansion of the telehealth originating site to include any site the patient is located, including the patient?s home, is extended through 2024

- The expansion of eligible practitioners who can furnish telehealth (including occupational therapists, physical therapists, speech-language pathologists and audiologists) will continue through 2024

- Rural health clinics (RHCs) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) may continue to furnish telehealth services through 2024

- The six-month in-person requirement for mental health services furnished through telehealth (including the in-person requirements for RHCs and FQHCs) is delayed until January 1, 2025

- Coverage and payment for telehealth furnished via audio-only during the PHEwill continue through 2024

- Telehealth to meet the face-to-face recertification requirement for hospice care is extended through 2024

HHScontinues to evaluate the fate of other clinician ?flexibilities?, as discussed in the following publication dated 2/1/2023: https://www cms gov/files/document/physicians-and-other-clinicians-cms-flexibilitiesfight-covid-19 pdf

PARA invit es you t o check out t he m lnconnect s page available from t he Cent ers For Medicare and Medicaid (CMS). It 's chock full of new s and inform at ion, t raining opport unit ies, event s and m ore! Each w eek PARA w ill bring you t he lat est new s and links t o available resources. Click each link for t he PDF!

Thursday, March 2, 2023

New s

- The Future of Medicare Enrollment: Save Time with PECOS's Consolidated Application

- Voluntary Prior Authorization Process for Certain Power Mobility Device Accessory Items

- Expanded Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model: February Newsletter

Event s

- ICD-10 Coordination & Maintenance Committee Meeting ? March 7?8

- Medicare Home Health Prospective Payment System CY2023 Webinar ? March 29

- Medicare Cost Report E-Filing System Webinar ? March 30

Mult im edia

- Shared Savings Program & Community-Based Organization Collaboration Webinar Materials

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