Cigna Extends Telehealth Expiration Date
On May 22, 2020, Cigna announced they are extending the customer cost-share waivers and other enhanced benefits, including our interim virtual care policy, through at least July 31, 2020. Click HERE to read the announcement straight from Cigna. In addition, check out my Cigna Telehealth Questions and Answers. I hope you found this article helpful. Thank you for being a Gold Member!
Medicare Telehealth Questions and Answers
This article was updated on July 23, 2020 due to Secretary Azar extending the Public Health Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This article was updated on June 23, 2020 due to CMS clarifying if a practitioner can be out of the country and provide a telehealth visit to a Medicare beneficiary in a state where the practitioner is licensed in. See below for the question and the answer. This article was updated on May 27, 2020 due to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services expanding telehealth coverage for outpatient therapy services to include institutional providers. Please see questions
UnitedHealthcare Telehealth Updates
On May 4, 2020, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) updated information on its website concerning physical, occupational and speech therapy telehealth. Highlights of UnitedHealthcare’s coverage of physical, occupational and speech therapy services delivered via telehealth include the following: In addition, check out my FAQs on UHC and telehealth that was published on April 23, 2020. I hope you found this information helpful. Thank you for being a Gold Member!
Aetna Updates CPT Codes That Can Be Delivered via Telehealth
On May 12, 2020, Aetna updated the list of CPT codes that can be delivered via telehealth and paid for by Aetna for both Aetna Commercial plans and Aetna Medicare Advantage plans. CPT codes that were added include In addition, check out my FAQs on Aetna and telehealth that I published on April 23, 2020. I hope you found this article helpful. Thank you for being a Gold Member!
Cigna Updates Telehealth Guidance
On May 13, 2020, American Specialty Health Group, Inc. (ASH Group) released updated guidance on the billing of telehealth services to current Cigna Customers. ASH Group states to use this revised Notice as a guide on how to bill for telehealth services during via this interim process. This interim process will be effective for dates of services retroactive to March 2, 2020 going forward through at least May 31, 2020. To access this revised guide, click In addition, check out my FAQs on Cigna and telehealth that I published on April 23, 2020. I hope you find this updated guidance
Can Hospital Therapy Departments Provide Telehealth Services
This article was updated on May 21, 2020. See below for updated answers. On April 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) temporarily expanded who can provide and be paid for telehealth services under the Medicare Part B program to now include physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. It was clear that this expansion of telehealth services included therapist-owned and physician-owned private practices but were unclear if this also included hospital outpatient therapy departments. Well, as of May 5, 2020, we now know the answer. QuestionCan a hospital outpatient therapy department be paid for a telehealth
CMS Adds Therapists as Telehealth Providers
On April 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced they were adding physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists as temporary providers of telehealth services during the Public Health Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Here is what we know so far. QuestionCan a physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist in private practice provide a telehealth visit and have it paid by the Medicare program? Answer Question – New Question May 6, 2020Can a physical therapist or occupational therapist employed by a physician-owned practice provide a telehealth visit to a Medicare Part B beneficiary and
Can Assistants Do Telehealth Visits
With many commercial insurance carriers and state Medicaid programs expanding telehealth services to include outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services during the COVID-19 pandemic, a frequent question I am being asked is can a physical therapist assistant (PTA) or occupational therapy assistant (OTA) provide a telehealth visit? To determine the answer, you must first look at your respective state practice act as well as any other state administrative rules. Is there any language found that either allows a PTA or OTA to provide telehealth services or specifically precludes a PTA or OTA from providing telehealth services? You then must