Telehealth
May 29, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Telehealth
On May 28, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced that its COVID-19 Telehealth Program has now approved a total of over $68 million in funding for 185 hospitals and other healthcare providers in 38 states plus Washington, DC. The program, whose full title states its goal of “Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers,” was adopted on
Read MoreMay 4, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | ACOs | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Telehealth
On April 30, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced numerous regulatory waivers and rule changes to, among other things, expand Medicare beneficiaries’ access to coronavirus testing and telehealth services. CMS also made changes to address financial concerns that had been raised by many accountable care organizations (ACOs).
The changes included adding behavioral
Read MoreApril 29, 2020 | Geoffrey R. Kaiser | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | False Claims Act | Fraud and Abuse | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Telehealth
On April 24, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published responses to certain frequently asked questions and further explained its application of administrative enforcement authorities to arrangements directly connected to the COVID-19 pandemic.
OIG stated that it is accepting inquiries regarding application of its administrative
Read MoreApril 7, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Cybersecurity | HIPAA | Home Health | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Private Insurers | Telehealth
On April 6, Rivkin Radler’s Eric Fader presented a COVID-19 Business Briefing on Telehealth. The Briefing covered recent developments in federal and state law and policy, and changes in private insurers’ policies, that have been aimed at encouraging the use of telehealth during the current public health emergency.
This Business Briefing was the second in
Read MoreMarch 30, 2020 | Christopher J. Kutner | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Electronic Health Records | HIPAA | Legislation and Public Policy | Telehealth
Several of the provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) will help people with substance use disorders and the healthcare professionals who care for them. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will receive $425 million to address mental health and substance use disorder needs as a result of
Read MoreMarch 30, 2020 | Ashley Algazi | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Cybersecurity | Electronic Health Records | HIPAA | Legislation and Public Policy | Litigation | Telehealth
The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27, made some substantial changes to the confidentiality rules for substance abuse and mental health records to bring them in line with HIPAA confidentiality rules. Among the changes, a covered entity or business associate may now use or disclose substance
Read MoreMarch 25, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | COVID-19 | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Telehealth
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released an updated edition of its Medicare Learning Network Telehealth Services booklet. The publication, targeted at Medicare fee-for-service providers, outlines Medicare’s telehealth reimbursement policies for 2020. There is also a short summary of the expanded telehealth benefits available to Medicare beneficiaries during the current COVID-19 outbreak,
Read MoreMarch 24, 2020 | Rivkin Rounds Staff | COVID-19 | HIPAA | Home Health | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Private Insurers | Telehealth
Rivkin Radler has launched a Coronavirus Resource Center on the firm’s website. All of the firm’s COVID-19-related articles and blog posts, across our many practice groups, are now compiled in one place for easy reference. We’ll continue adding to the Resource Center as the pandemic continues.
Read MoreMarch 19, 2020 | Eric D. Fader | Margarita Christoforou | COVID-19 | Home Health | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Private Insurers | Telehealth
On March 17, the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) announced the issuance of a new emergency regulation requiring insurance companies in the state to waive cost-sharing, including deductibles, copayments, and coinsurance, for in-network telehealth visits, whether or not related to coronavirus. The new regulation will “encourage New Yorkers to seek medical attention
Read MoreMarch 18, 2020 | Margarita Christoforou | Behavioral Health | COVID-19 | Home Health | Hospitals | Legislation and Public Policy | Medicare and Medicaid | Telehealth
In an effort to limit the spread of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) outbreak, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 17 announced the expansion of Medicare coverage for telehealth nationwide, effective immediately. CMS will temporarily pay clinicians to provide telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries residing anywhere in the U.S. so that those who
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