An Emergency telehealth policy ^vii  was issued by states in response to the coronavirus outbreak. For instance, the Mississippi Division of Medicaid is expanding its coverage of telehealth services throughout the states in alignment with Governor Tate Reeves’ recommendations on leveraging telemedicine to care for patients while limiting unnecessary travel, clinic visits, and possible exposure. For a complete reference to the Mississippi Division of Medicaid’s updated telehealth policy, which includes procedures during states of emergency, see the administrative code section. ^viii

Mississippi’s Division of Medicaid defines telehealth services as the delivery of healthcare by an enrolled states’ Medicaid provider through a real-time audio and/or visual communication method to a beneficiary who is located at a different site.  Mississippi Medicaid defines the distant site as the physical location of the provider delivering the telehealth service. The beneficiary’s physical location at the time the telehealth service is provided is the originating site. During a state of emergency, a beneficiary’s residence is approved as an originating site.   

Every state has different policies and requirements for delivering telehealth services. We recommend that you visit the states website in which you are wanting to provide your services for the most recent recommendations.