On July 8, 2015, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released its proposed Calendar Year 2016 Physician Fee Schedule (“PFS”) Proposed Rule, which was published in the Federal Register on July 15, 2015. Although the proposed PFS includes a section specific to telehealth, the proposed changes to telehealth coverage policies were not as expansive as some had hoped.  In summary,

• Medicare proposed to add codes for prolonged inpatient service and ESRD related services, and
• Proposed to include CRNAs as approved distant site practitioners who may furnish Medicare telehealth services.

The pages specific to the proposed telehealth rules can be found here: 2016-Fee-Schedule and include some helpful information on the requirements and payment opportunities for those codes that are eligible for payment under Medicare.

Written By: Traci Thompson