The federal government extended telehealth waivers for two years, but the current higher rate of reimbursement is in place only through the end of this year.
During the public health emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reimburses providers at the non-facility rate, which creates payment parity between an in-person and a telehealth visit, reports Healthcare Finance.
Telehealth flexibilities originally got a 151-day extension, and then a two-year addition after the end of the public health emergency. If the PHE ends in mid-April as projected, health systems and other providers can expect telehealth waivers to continue through at least the end of 2024.
But current reimbursement rates last only through 2023, according to Kyle Zebley, senior vice president, Public Policy, for the American Telemedicine Association. After that, rates could return to pre-pandemic lower levels. More is expected to be known when CMS releases the annual physician fee schedule.
“Possibly for 2024, (based on) the physician fee schedule, there’s a chance it goes back down,” Zebley said. Read more.
