The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced they will accept interstate license compacts for Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech Language Therapy as valid, full licenses for the purposes of meeting CMS’ federal license requirements. A physical therapist, occupational therapist or speech-language pathologist working under the authorization of a compact must meet both the licensure requirements outlined in the primary state of residence and thoseestablished by the compact laws adopted by the legislatures of the interstate compact states. CMS states that the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) will accept CMS-855 enrollment applications from providers reporting an interstate license

UnitedHealthcare Oxford has revised its clinical policy for “Outpatient Physical and Occupational Therapy”. The effective date of this revision is July 1, 2020. This policy applies to all Oxford membership excluding New Jersey Small Plan membership. To access the revised policy, click In addition, UnitedHealthcare Oxford has revised its clinical policy for Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Including Cognitive/Neuropsychological Rehabilitation for New Jersey Small Group Members with an effective date of July 1, 2020. This policy applies to Oxford NJ Small plan membership. To access the revised policy, click I hope you found this information helpful. Thank you for being

Due to the Public Health Emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued many waivers regarding how hospitals can deliver outpatient therapy services to their Medicare Part B beneficiaries. In this article, I will discuss the “Hospitals without Walls” and the expansion of telehealth services and explain the difference in the 2 including how to bill for each type of service. QuestionWhat is “Hospitals without Walls” and how does this allow hospitals to provide outpatient therapy services to Medicare Part B beneficiaries in their home? Answer QuestionCan hospitals provide outpatient physical, occupational and

Extending Telehealth DeadlineOn June 16, 2020, UnitedHealthcare (UHC) announced they will extend telehealth coverage through I hope you found this update informative. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

UHC has provided updated information on the extension of telehealth services. Click HERE for the latest update from UHC on the extension of providing outpatient therapy services delivered via telehealth. UnitedHealthcare’s expansion of telehealth services to include outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services was due to expire on June 18, 2020. Due to the continued COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, UnitedHealth (UHC) will now cover outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy delivered via telehealth until I hope you found this information helpful. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

Aetna’s expansion of telehealth services to include outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services was due to expire on June 4, 2020. Due to the continued COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Aetna will now cover outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy delivered via telehealth until I hope you found this article helpful. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

This article was updated on May 28, 2020 Humana will now cover telehealth services for outpatient therapy services provided by physical therapists, physical therapists assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and speech-language pathologists. Humana states they will always follow the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth or state-specific requirements that apply to telehealth coverage for our insurance products. Since CMS now covers telehealth when provided by physical therapists, physical therapists assistants, occupational therapists, occupational therapy assistants and speech-language pathologists in all outpatient therapy settings (both private practice and institutional settings), at minimum, Humana will now cover the same.

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!