With the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expansion of telehealth services as well as their Hospital Without Walls initiative, many hospitals are confused on the differences between providing outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services remotely versus via telehealth and how to complete the UB-04 claim form. I published an article on June 18, 2020 explaining the differences between the two and how to do the billing for each type of service. Now, CMS has provided additional clarification on providing outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services remotely versus via telehealth and explains how to do the billing

With the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services extending the Public Health Emergency (PHE) due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many private practices as well as facilities and organizations want to know what does this mean for the extension of providing outpatient therapy services via telehealth. In this article, I will provide updates on outpatient therapy services delivered via telehealth for the traditional Medicare Part B program and some of the larger national insurance carriers. Medicare (Traditional) Aetna Anthem BCBS of Colorado Anthem BCBS of Connecticut Anthem BCBS of Georgia Anthem BCBS of Indiana Anthem BCBS of Kentucky

Cigna has extended the expiration date for outpatient therapy services delivered via telehealth. The new expiration date is I hope you found this information informative and valuable to your practice or organization. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

UnitedHealthcare has provided updates on outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services delivered via telehealth. Telehealth for Medicare Advantage Telehealth for Individual and Fully Insured Group Market Virtual Check-Ins and E-Visits for Medicare Advantage Virtual Check-Ins for Individual and Fully Insured Group Market E-Visits for Individual and Fully Insured Group Market In addition to all of the above important information, click and read all about outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services delivered via telehealth. I hope you found this article informative. Thank you for being a Gold Member!

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.