Source: Politico
By BEN LEONARD, EVAN PENG and ERIN SCHUMAKER
Flush times continue in Washington for telehealth advocates, marked most recently by victories in the House and at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services last week.
CMS proposed to boost payment rates to providers for the virtual care they give to Medicare patients in their homes. And a House subcommittee approved a bill that would provide permanent tax breaks for telehealth plans.
The nitty-gritty: In its proposed physician fee schedule for next year, CMS says doctors need additional compensation because they’re now offering a significant amount of telehealth while still maintaining their physical offices.
The agency said doctors’ expenses are consistent with a higher “non-facility” payment rate, which varies by service type.
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