Health Care Today | Health Law Blog

The Office for Civil Rights (OCR) has relaxed HIPAA privacy rules for health care providers engaging in telehealth activities during the COVID-19 public health emergency. To provide greater clarity to the Notification of Enforcement Discretion regarding COVID-19 released on March 17, 2020, the OCR has released FAQs available here.

On March 17, 2020, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) issued a Policy Statement that will provide yet another avenue of relief from regulatory requirements as health care providers across the nation deal with the COVID-19 public health emergency.

This specific action by the OIG relieves physicians and other health care practitioners from administrative sanctions if they reduce or waive any cost-sharing obligations from federal health care beneficiaries seeking telehealth services.

In the Winter edition of Dental Sleep Practice, Greensfelder attorney Jayme Matchinski discusses the key issues and regulations dentists and dental practices should consider and navigate with the increase in telemedicine services. From the publication:

The expansion of telemedicine is changing the landscape of providing Dental Sleep Medicine and oral appliances. This article will address key issues and regulations dentists and dental practices should consider and navigate in order to avoid potential pitfalls and liability.

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

There are many business models and provider arrangements for the provision of telehealth. Given the regulatory climate and increasing use of telehealth by health care providers and patients, these business models and provider arrangements are continuing to change.

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

Medicaid programs pay for telemedicine, telehealth and telemonitoring services delivered through a range of interactive video, audio or data transmission (telecommunications). Various state Medicaid programs are experiencing a significant increase in claims for these services and expect this trend to continue.

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.