QUESTION: Our patients have really responded to the telehealth services that we introduced to help extend care during the height of COVID-19. We still provide more than 50% of our services via telehealth. Are payers going to extend the telehealth waivers, or will it become more difficult to provide these virtual services?
Milwaukee, WI Subscriber
ANSWER: Well it’s great that you like many practices have accelerated the healthcare move to offering the convenience, safety and flexibility that telehealth services provide. CMS has seen these benefits too and announced that it intends to extend telehealth waivers through the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
Many payers have also extended the original expiration dates for their telehealth COVID-19 waivers. BCBS of Tennessee and Cigna both announced in May that they will extend telehealth services. Cigna through July and BCBS TN permanently.
Be sure to check with your payers for exact terms as this information changes quickly. Here are some plans and the current last dates of service covered for telehealth visits. Keep in mind, this can change, so to be sure you should regularly keep up-to-date with each of your payers.
Telehealth Resources For Your Success
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