After most commercial insurers moved to expand their coverage of telehealth during the Covid-19 pandemic, health systems are watching to see if the changes will become permanent. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee was one of the first to make the move, saying it would keep its expanded telehealth coverage.
Tennessee’s largest commercial insurer was one of the first to signal its continued coverage of telehealth. Last week, it updated its plans to permanently keep expanded telehealth coverage.
“This recent period has proven virtual care can work for preventive, routine and maintenance care, and we’re making this decision because the added convenience can bring better health,” BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee President and CEO JD Hickey said in a news release.
To start, the insurer just expanded its telehealth coverage to primary care providers, behavioral health providers and other specialists. Later, it began covering occupational therapy, speech therapy and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. The company will reimburse for both phone calls and video visits.
As health plans began to cover more telehealth visits, adoption soared. Between March 16 and April 14, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee saw 71,000 telehealth claims, 18 times more than it saw during the same period last year.
Telehealth startups and healthcare providers have similarly reported a sharp increase in telehealth visits, though overall patient volumes are still down since the start of the pandemic. Tennessee’s largest commercial insurer was one of the first to signal its continued coverage of telehealth. Last week, it updated its plans to permanently keep expanded telehealth coverage.
“This recent period has proven virtual care can work for preventive, routine and maintenance care, and we’re making this decision because the added convenience can bring better health,” BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee President and CEO JD Hickey said in a news release.
To start, the insurer just expanded its telehealth coverage to primary care providers, behavioral health providers and other specialists. Later, it began covering occupational therapy, speech therapy and applied behavioral analysis (ABA) therapy. The company will reimburse for both phone calls and video visits.
As health plans began to cover more telehealth visits, adoption soared. Between March 16 and April 14, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee saw 71,000 telehealth claims, 18 times more than it saw during the same period last year.
CMS shares specifics on sweeping Medicare telehealth expansion
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provided guidance on new telehealth regulations that would allow Medicare to reimburse for more telehealth visits. While Medicare previously limited reimbursement to patients living in rural areas, HHS Secretary Alex Azar recently expanded it in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma has hinted that the agency might keep some of the changes made to its telehealth coverage during the Covid-19 pandemic, though CMS hasn’t yet announced any specific plans. The sweeping changes could play an important role in the trajectory of the disease, letting older patients who face a higher risk from the disease receive care at home.
Prior to the changes, Medicare would only pay for telehealth visits when the patient was in a rural area and if they went to a clinic, hospital, or another medical facility to receive care. Now, Medicare will cover in-home visits, and for patients in any location. A broader range of providers will also be able to deliver telehealth services, including doctors, nurse practitioners and clinical psychologists, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services explained.
If other insurers make similar moves, it could be a sign of things to come.
No comments:
Post a Comment