On October 15, 2021, the Secretary of Health & Human Services renewed the Public Health Emergency (PHE). This move represents the seventh time the PHE was renewed since its declaration on January 27, 2020. The importance for medical practices is that the regulatory relaxations for telemedicine related to the federal government are extended for another 90 days. This includes Medicare reimbursement for certain Medicare services provided via telemedicine or, as applicable, by telephone. For a current list of reimbursed services, see this link. https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/Telehealth/Telehealth-Codes
It is important to note that this federal extension does not apply to individual state board rules and physicians are encouraged to check with each state in which they practice as to the current licensure requirements in effect.
Elizabeth Woodcock is the founder and principal of Woodcock & Associates. She has focused on medical practice operations and revenue cycle management for more than 25 years. She has led educational sessions for a multitude of national professional associations and specialty societies, and consulted for clients as diverse as a solo orthopaedic surgeon in rural Georgia to the Mayo Clinic. She is author or co-author of 17 best-selling practice management books, to include Mastering Patient Flow and The Physician Billing Process: Avoiding Potholes in the Road to Getting Paid. Elizabeth is a Fellow in the American College of Medical Practice Executives and a Certified Professional Coder. In addition to a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University, she completed a Master of Business Administration in healthcare management from The Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania. She is currently a doctoral student at the Bloomberg School of Public Health of Johns Hopkins University.
The contents of The Sentinel are intended for educational/informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice. Policyholders are urged to consult with their personal attorney for legal advice, as specific legal requirements may vary from state to state and/or change over time.
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