CMS Rule Acknowledges Telehealth as Care Option

A 1,425-page Managed Care Final Rule put out by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finally updates bylaws which “aligns key rules with those of other health insurance coverage programs, modernizes how states purchase managed care for beneficiaries, and strengthens the consumer experience and key consumer protections,” according to the CMS via an article by Mobi Health News.The rule allows each state to establish standards in which all Medicaid beneficiaries will be able to have access to the care they require. Past standards necessitated in-person care services to be available for all treatments but the CMS has now ruled that telemedicine is a viable option/form of care after public comments.“We agree with commenters that such services and technological solutions could impact the needs of enrollees in a particular area and could change the manner and extent to which other network providers are needed and utilized. We encourage states to consider how current and future technological solutions could impact their network adequacy standards. Therefore, we agree with adding these criteria to the list of elements that states should consider when developing network adequacy standards. We are modifying the regulatory text to adopt this recommendation,” the CMS recorded in the Federal Register.Being that it is imperative to modify legislation and regulations regarding telehealth as it continues to expand, this CMS Rule is a giant step in the right direction towards consumers being able to experience the benefits of telemedicine.If you are interested in discussing how a telemedicine doctor network can help your healthcare organization, please click below.Contact us to find out more!