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03/26/20

BCBS of Nebraska Adds Telehealth Coverage for Therapy

Per the Nebraska (NE) Physical Therapy Association, Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Nebraska has made the decision to adjust their telehealth policy to cover Physical, Speech and Occupational therapy services . BCBS NE will accept telehealth charges from any credentialed provider with no video component required during this pandemic urgency period. An announcement will be place on our Happening Now section of our webpage later this today. Here is the link to our Happening Now section that will be updated: https://www.nebraskablue.com/Providers/Alerts-and-Updates/Happening-Now A provider may bill using E&M codes, therapy codes or telehealth codes and must use the modifier 95 and

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03/26/20

BCBS of North Carolina Expands Telehealth Coverage

Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of North Carolina has expanded reimbursement for all services delivered through telehealth that meets the criteria outlined in the attached document. To access this document, click HERE.

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03/26/20

New Hampshire Governor Mandates Telehealth Coverage

Per the New Hampshire Physical Therapy Associations website, Governor Sununu released an Executive Order that along with Guidance from the State of NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification (OPLC) that appears to provide guidance for utilization of telehealth by physical therapists in NH.  The New Hampshire Physical Therapy Association website goes on to say “While the executive order from the governor does not explicitly detail physical therapists, the additional OPLC guidance states that “effective immediately, the Governor has ordered ‘all medical providers[…] be allowed to perform health care services through the use of all modes of telehealth, including video and

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03/26/20

Illinois Governor Mandates Telehealth Coverage

Governor Pritzker of Illinois, On March 19, 2020, mandated that all insurance carriers regulated by the Department of Insurance are hereby required to cover the cost of Telehealth Services rendered by in-network providers to deliver any clinically appropriate, medically necessary covered services and treatments to insureds, enrollees and members under each policy, contract, or certificate of health insurance coverage. Click HERE to read the order. Click HERE to access the Illinois PT Association website regarding any updates.

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03/26/20

Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Mandates Telehealth Coverage

In the state of Louisiana, the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, has issued a Declaration of Emergency mandating the following: §3309. Telemedicine Provider Access A. Health insurance issuers shall waive any coverage limitations restricting telemedicine access to provider included within a plan’s telemedicine network. B. Health insurance issuers shall waive any requiremen that the patient and provider have a prior relationship in order to have services delivered through telemedicine.AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with Proclamation No. JBE 2020-29.HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Department of Insurance, Office of the Commissioner, LR 46. §3311. Telemedicine Services Coverage A. Health insurance

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03/26/20

Wellmark BCBS to Pay Outpatient Therapy for Telehealth

Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) has announced they will pay for virtual visits (telehealth) without any member cost-share to remove barriers to receiving care. In addition, Wellmark’s Iowa and South Dakota network providers will receive the same fee for virtual visits as an in-person visit. This includes physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech-language pathology services. Click HERE to read it straight from Wellmark BCBS and to see what CPT codes can be billed for telehealth by physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists.

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03/26/20

Washington Governor Mandates Telehealth Reimbursement

On March 25, 2020, The State of Washington Governor Jay Inslee has issued a proclamation that states the following: “FURTHERMORE, based on the above situation and under the provisions of RCW 43.06.220(1)(h), tohelp preserve and maintain life, health, property or the public peace in addressing the COVID-19 State of Emergency, and for services provided during the period for which the above statutory waiver is in effect, I also prohibit the following activities by health carriers to encourage health care providers to provide telemedicine services by providing for payment parity between telemedicine and in-person medical services: Reimbursing in-network providers for telemedicine

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03/25/20

Arizona Mandates Telehealth Coverage

On March 25, 2020, Arizona Governor Douglas A. Ducey issued an Executive Order stating “Beginning on March 25, 2020 and continuing for the duration of the Public Health Emergency declared in Arizona on March 11, 2020, in order to protect public health, expedite access to and treatment of health conditions, and to slow the spread of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities, all health insurance plans regulated by the Arizona Department of Insurance are hereby required to provide coverage for all healthcare services that are provided through telemedicine if the healthcare service would be covered were it provided through an in-person visit

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