Dear Avisery Members,
In response to the COVID-19 health emergency, Medicare and Medicaid have expanded telehealth services to avoid individuals putting themselves or others at risk by leaving their homes to visit a doctor's office or hospital.
Medicare and Telehealth Services
Medicare has temporarily expanded coverage of telehealth benefits to all people with Medicare and will allow beneficiaries to access their doctors or medical providers virtually using a mobile phone, laptop, or device that provides two-way visual and audio communication while at their places of residence, including their home, assisted living facility, or nursing home. Beneficiaries can temporarily use telehealth services during the COVID-19 outbreak for common office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive health screenings. Additional information on Medicare and telehealth services can be found at:
Medicare has also released a fact sheet that details how Medicare will provide coverage to beneficiaries and payments to providers for services related to COVID-19. The fact sheet can be found
here
.
Medicaid and Telehealth Services
The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) has also expanded telehealth services due to the health emergency related to COVID-19. Beginning March 9, 2020, Illinois Medicaid will cover expanded telehealth services for individuals in fee-for-service Medicaid and Medicaid Managed Care plans. Individuals are now eligible to use telehealth services to contact medical providers from any site, including their home, that allows individuals to use interactive two-way real-time audio and visual technology. For additional information, please visit
https://www.illinois.gov/hfs/MedicalProviders/notices/Pages/prn200320b.aspx
.
