Regence BCBS is expanding telehealth coverage in the states of Idaho, Oregon, Utah, and select counties of the state of Washington. Click HERE to read all about telehealth. If you have specific questions about telehealth coverage for outpatient physical, occupational and/or speech therapy, you will need to contact your Regence provider.

The state of Washington Physical Therapy Association has a dedicated webpage for telehealth services provided by physical therapists and physical therapist assistants. To access this page, click HERE.

Blue Shield (BS) of California has added outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services as providers who can provide telehealth services and be reimbursed for those services. BS states “Physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), speech therapy (SP), and registered nurse dietitian nutritionist services can all be provided via telehealth, limited to services that are not “hands-on” and can be provide remotely. Examples of common CPT codes that fall into this category: PT – 97110, OT – 97530, SP – 92507.” Click HERE to read it straight from the BS of California website.

On March 23, 2020, the South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Board of Physical Therapy Examiners has issued guidance regarding use of telehealth to provide physical therapy services during public health state of emergency.

Click HERE to read the entire order.

New Jersey Governor Murphy announces Departmental Actions to Expand Access to Telehealth and Tele-Mental Health Services in Response to COVID-19. This includes physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists. Click HERE to read the announcement.

The Michigan Physical Therapy Association (MPTA) has updated their website with information stating “BCBSM has notified MPTA that it will cover CPT Codes 97110, 97112, 97116, 97530 and 97535 via telehealth effective for both commercial and MA population until June 30. The official notification and associated nuances/restrictions will be posted on the Provider Portal soon.”

TRICARE has finally issued the long awaited final rule to add physical therapist assistants (PTAs) and occupational therapy assistants (OTAs) as TRICARE authorized providers to provide physical therapy or occupational therapy services under the supervision of a TRICARE-authorized physical therapist (PT) or occupational therapist (OT) in accordance with Medicare’s rules for supervision and qualification. TRICARE will implement I hope you enjoyed this article and this great news that has long been overdo. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), I am receiving many questions regarding telehealth and the ability for physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists to provide telehealth services and to have those services reimbursed by the Medicare program and private/commercial insurance carriers. See below for some of the common questions I receive and the answers as of March 13, 2020. QuestionWith the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services changing the rules and regulations for telehealth services due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), does this now mean physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists can now provide telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries, bill