CMS extends COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities for hospital outpatient therapies

Hospitals may continue to bill through calendar year 2023 for certain outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology services, Diabetes Self-Management Training, and Medical Nutrition Therapy provided by hospital staff to Medicare beneficiaries in their homes through telecommunication technology, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said in an update to a FAQ on the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.

“However, for DSMT services, we understand that some other types of hospital clinical staff, beyond those identified as eligible distant site practitioners for Medicare telehealth, can provide these services in some cases,” CMS said. “To allow these services to continue to be furnished to patients in their home through telecommunication technology through the end of CY 2023, we are exercising enforcement discretion in reviewing the telehealth practitioner status of the clinical staff personally providing any part of a remotely furnished DSMT service, so long as the practitioner is otherwise qualified to provide the service.”
 
The AHA has advocated to continue these flexibilities to support continued access to services for geographically dispersed patients and those with mobility or transportation challenges.