Health Care Today | Health Law Blog

The expansion of telehealth is changing the landscape of health care. This is the second in a four-part series exploring what providers should know about this growing area.

Before 2015, Medicare did not pay separately for telehealth, and telehealth and telemedicine services were bundled into “evaluation and management” codes. However, in 2015, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) added further telehealth coverage. CMS has added seven telehealth billing codes, including codes for psychotherapy, prolonged office visits and annual wellness visits conducted electronically. CMS also began paying for remote patient monitoring for chronic conditions.

The expansion of telehealth is changing the landscape of health care. This is the first in a four-part series exploring what providers should know about this growing area.

Health care providers and patients are relying more heavily on telehealth for the provision of health care. The rise of telehealth is changing the landscape of how health care is provided due to advances in technology and health care delivery systems, and it is improving patient access to health care and the quality of patient care. As the use of telehealth continues to expand, health care providers and third-party payors need to ensure regulatory compliance and navigate the related risks in implementing telemedicine practices and programs.