Helpful Resources on using telehealth to respond to the the Covid-19 outbreak.
CDC's COVID-19 Resources
Center for Disease Control and Prevention Main COVID-19 Website:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html
CDC's Information for Healthcare Providers:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html
Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP:
Alert regarding changes in federal law and reimbursements:
https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/publications/2020/3/a-day-in-telehealth-history.
COVID-10 Resource Hub:
https://www.faegredrinker.com/en/insights/topics/coronavirus-covid-19-resource-center#Explore%20the%20Resource%20Center
Medicare & Medicaid
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is using Section 1135 waiver authority to waive the originating site restrictions for telehealth encounters during this emergency. Effective March 6, CMS will reimburse for telehealth visits to Medicare patients whether the patient is in a health care facility or in their home. Please note that CMS indicates it will exercise "enforcement discretion" on the 3-year pre-existing relationship rule. CMS has also given Medicaid programs flexibility to allow for telehealth reimbursement without the federal government's permission. For more information, we suggest you review the following useful links from CMS.
CMS Newsroom: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom
CMS Press Release Expanding Telehealth Benefits:
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/president-trump-expands-telehealth-benefits-medicare-beneficiaries-during-covid-19-outbreak
CMS Fact Sheet: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/president-trump-expands-telehealth-benefits-medicare-beneficiaries-during-covid-19-outbreak
CMS FAQs Released 3-17-20: https://edit.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-telehealth-frequently-asked-questions-faqs-31720.pdf
Guidance and information is being updated daily by many federal, state and local agencies. Here are some specific sites which may be useful to you:
US Department of Health & Human Services - Notification of Enforcement Discretion for telehealth remote communications during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html
IDPH 's Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Site:
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Office of the Illinois Governor Executive Orders:
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/GOV/Pages/default.aspx
Office of the Illinois Governor's News Room (Press Conferences): https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gov/newsroom/Pages/default.aspx
Additional Resources:
American Telemedicine Association: https://info.americantelemed.org/covid-19-news-resources
Illinois Health & Hospital Association: https://www.team-iha.org/ Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center: https://www.umtrc.org/
CMS Reimbursement Updates for
Telehealth to Address COVID-19 Crisis
Medicare & Medicaid
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is using Section 1135 waiver authority to waive the originating site restrictions for telehealth encounters during this emergency. Effective March 6, CMS will reimburse for telehealth visits to Medicare patients whether the patient is in a health care facility or in their home. Please note that CMS indicates it will exercise "enforcement discretion" on the 3-year pre-existing relationship rule. CMS has also given Medicaid programs flexibility to allow for telehealth reimbursement without the federal government's permission. For more information, we suggest you review the following useful links from CMS.
CMS Newsroom: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom
CMS Press Release Expanding Telehealth Benefits:
https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/president-trump-expands-telehealth-benefits-medicare-beneficiaries-during-covid-19-outbreak
CMS Fact Sheet: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/president-trump-expands-telehealth-benefits-medicare-beneficiaries-during-covid-19-outbreak
CMS FAQs Released 3-17-20: https://edit.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-telehealth-frequently-asked-questions-faqs-31720.pdf
Guidance and information is being updated daily by many federal, state and local agencies. Here are some specific sites which may be useful to you:
US Department of Health & Human Services - Notification of Enforcement Discretion for telehealth remote communications during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/emergency-preparedness/notification-enforcement-discretion-telehealth/index.html
IDPH 's Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Site:
http://www.dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/diseases-and-conditions/diseases-a-z-list/coronavirus
Office of the Illinois Governor Executive Orders:
https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/GOV/Pages/default.aspx
Office of the Illinois Governor's News Room (Press Conferences): https://www2.illinois.gov/sites/gov/newsroom/Pages/default.aspx
Additional Resources:
American Telemedicine Association: https://info.americantelemed.org/covid-19-news-resources
Illinois Health & Hospital Association: https://www.team-iha.org/