CMS makes first move to permanently incorporate telehealth into care
By HME News Staff
Updated Tue June 30, 2020
WASHINGTON - CMS is proposing to allow home health agencies to continue to report the costs of telehealth as allowable administrative costs on line 5 of the home health agency cost report, according to a proposed rule. The agency proposes modifying the instructions regarding line 5 to reflect broader use of telecommunications technology. Additionally, CMS proposes to include not only remote patient monitoring but also other communications or monitoring services, consistent with the plan of care for the individual. “Because stakeholders have identified significant up-front costs in incorporating and evaluating various forms of telecommunications systems into home health care, this would allow HHAs to confidently plan for the continued inclusion of telecommunications systems under the Medicare home health benefit and increase the tools available to promote patient involvement and autonomy and potentially more efficient home health care,” the rule states.
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