Medicare Telehealth Advocacy Continues
February 7, 2022
ASHA recently met with Medicare officials from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to provide input on the outpatient telehealth benefit for 2023. ASHA’s goal is to ensure a robust telehealth benefit remains in effect throughout the federal public health emergency (PHE) and beyond. In the meeting, we shared promising preliminary telehealth utilization data, which demonstrate the efficacy of these services. ASHA anticipates the 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule will be released in early July for public comment. Our comments will reiterate the importance of maintaining a comprehensive telehealth benefit for Medicare beneficiaries and will present data and evidence demonstrating patient satisfaction and positive outcomes related to telehealth services.
Maintaining and expanding coverage for telehealth services provided by audiologists and speech-language pathologists (SLPs) is a critical component of ASHA’s 2022 Public Policy Agenda (PPA). Currently, CMS has the authority to reimburse for select services but only through a Category 3 temporary coverage designation that allows for developing data and evidence that could lead to permanent telehealth coverage under Medicare. Since the PHE, the immediate need to allow a comprehensive telehealth benefit has laid the groundwork for permanent coverage of these services if Congress includes audiologists and SLPs as authorized Medicare telehealth providers under federal law. ASHA continues advocating with Congress to secure the permanent addition of audiologists and SLPs to the list of authorized Medicare telehealth providers. Learn how you can get involved today!
Questions?
ASHA provides information regarding Medicare coverage of telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Contact reimbursement@asha.org for additional information.
