Medicare expands access to telehealth, e-visits

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a fact sheet this week on payment for virtual services provided to Medicare beneficiaries. The goal is to enable providers to render services without exposing patients to possible infection through an office visit. Under its 1135 waiver program, Medicare is authorized to pay for provider visits furnished via telehealth. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced its Office for Civil Rights will waive potential HIPAA penalties for good faith use of telehealth during the emergency, which will make it possible for patients and providers to communicate from their homes via select video chat apps including FaceTime and Skype. The HHS Office of Inspector General is also providing flexibility for providers to reduce or waive beneficiary cost-sharing for telehealth visits paid for by federal health care programs. (CMS fact sheet, 3/17/20)