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During the crisis, “Telehealth” Services Now Covered by Medicare
“Telehealth” refers to healthcare services which are delivered to patients using electronic means, such as via telephone, text, email and, electronic “chat.” And especially during these difficult times, avoiding direct in-person interaction at doctors’ offices, clinics and hospitals is highly desirable and important to avoid contagion. Recognizing this, and to help stem the spread of the Coronavirus, Medicare has announced greatly expanded coverage to include reimbursing doctors and medical service providers for telehealth services provided to patients during the pandemic. In other words, you and your medical service provider can interact on the telephone or other electronic means instead of an in-person visit, and Medicare will consider that the same as an in-office consultation. All of this is described in this Social Security “blog” post by Medicare’s Seema Verma, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Click here to read CMS’ statement on expanded telehealth services.
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