back to top
Home Blog

Temporary telehealth services

0

Medicaid’s emergency telehealth policy will allow additional use of telehealth services to combat the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Details of enhanced services include the following:  

Improved access for beneficiaries   

  • A beneficiary may seek telehealth:  
  1. From the beneficiary’s home with no telepresence present  
  1.  From an originating site approved in the state plan with a telepresence present  
  1. From a temporarily approved originating site as a telepresence present  
  • A beneficiary may use his or her cellular device, computer, tablet, or another web camera-enabled device to seek and receive medical care in a synchronous format with a Medicaid approved distant-site provider.   
  • Telehealth services do not include service delivery through text messages, email, a web portal, or other formats that do not include audio and/or visual components. 

Requirements for the provision of temporary telehealth services  

Temporary telehealth services provided during this period must meet the following criteria: 

  • The service rendered from the distant site must be safe and medically appropriate for delivery in the originating site.   
  • Any services provided through telehealth must meet the same standard of care as if provided in person.   
  • The beneficiary must give either verbal or written consent to receive telehealth services. Providers must document this consent.   
  • Providers may only bill:  
  1. Procedure codes that they are already eligible to bill 
  1. The temporary telehealth procedure codes     
  • Services not otherwise covered by the Division of Medicaid are not covered when delivered via telehealth.  
  • The availability of services through telehealth does not alter the scope of practice of any health care provider, nor does it authorize the delivery of health care services in a setting or manner not otherwise authorized by law.   
  • The GT Modifier should be used in addition to service/program required modifiers and is not intended to take the place of other modifiers.