Telehealth & Telemedicine Services Covered by Medicare

Medicare continues to expand telemedicine and telehealth services. As virtual care becomes more necessary, doctors and patients look for Medicare to cover services. Part B includes more telehealth services than ever before. In the content below, we’ll discuss how and when Medicare works with telemedicine.

Also, the location during the time of service must be in a patient’s home or an allowable facility. There are no location restrictions for doctors.

Medicare Telehealth Parity Act

The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act has expanded. Now, the federal healthcare program covers more virtual care services than before. The bill also increased the approved locations for both originating and distant sites. Also, the 2017 Act initiated remote patient-monitoring for those with chronic conditions. Two years earlier, Congress introduced The Medicare Telehealth Parity Act of 2015. The bill opened the doors of opportunity for better delivery of healthcare.

Further, the bill included in-home telehealth as a qualifying originating state. Qualifying beneficiaries may obtain medical care from home.

Trump Expands Telehealth Benefits to Beneficiaries in Rural Areas

While telehealth can’t fully replace in-person care, it does compliment care by increasing access. During the Pandemic, Trump began making telehealth available to those on Medicare. Well, he is making this access permanent. This rule would also reduce clinician burden while giving convenient doctor access to those in rural areas.

For example, doctor training and administrative meetings would fall under telehealth. And, a virtual follow up doctor’s visit would be telemedicine. To make things more complicated, the World Health Organization uses the term “telematics” to describe health activities that take place via communication technology. Telematics is both telemedicine and telehealth.

So, all telemedicine is telehealth. But not all telehealth is telemedicine. And, telematics is both.

Telemedicine that Accepts Medicare

• Hospitals
• Critical Access Hospitals
• Home of a beneficiary with End-Stage Renal Disease getting home dialysis
• Hospital-based Renal Dialysis Centers
• Renal Dialysis Facilities
• Doctor’s Offices
• Community Mental Health Centers
• Rural Health Clinics
• Federally Qualified Health Centers
• Skilled Nursing Facilities
• Mobile stroke units
• Community mental health centers

Costs of telemedicine services and office visits are comparable under Advantage Plans. For example, if you’re video conferencing a primary care doctor, you’ll likely pay less than if you’re video-chatting with a specialist.

FAQs

How to Get Help with Telehealth & Telemedicine Coverage with Medicare

Telehealth and telemedicine give patients access to doctors from a remote location. In times of crisis, this kind of care can be life-saving. Our agents can help you find your best policy today! We have a team of experts ready to get you the benefits that you deserve. We compare rates and offer free quotes for plans in your area. Give us a call to find the best policies in your area. Can't talk right now? We get it, and we're here to help make things easier. Complete our online rate form to get the process started.

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