This fact sheet include changes implemented due to responses to COVID-19 that have impacted telehealth policy in California. DHCS may still be submitting another 1135 Waiver and possible 1115 Waiver to the federal government. Policy continues to develop.
CCHP has gathered telehealth related information and guidance issued by CMS and combined the materials into a single resource compilation. Medicare telehealth policy is generally detailed in the Medicare Learning Network (MLN)’s Booklet on Telehealth Services issued at the beginning of each year. However, occasionally questions are raised regarding telehealth reimbursement that are not addressed in the Booklet, or CMS issues supplemental MLN documents, Medicare manual sections or Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) documents to address specific topic areas that require specialized direction (such as FQHC/RHC billing). The purpose of CCHP’s compilation is to consolidate all of this information into one reference resource.
CCHP’s 2019 roundup of state approved legislation, which includes a detailed listing of all bills by topic area and state, is now available.
In August 2019, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released its finalized telehealth policy update to its Medi-Cal fee-for-service program. CCHP has created a comparison chart between the programs that outlines the various changes to the revised Medi-Cal policies.
The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) released its finalized telehealth policy update to its Medi-Cal fee-for-service program. The majority of the changes occurred in fee-for-service and the other manuals make references back to that policy. The intent of the Department for the updates was to increase flexibility for the use of telehealth in Medi-Cal and clarify certain policies. CCHP has created a fact sheet that summarizes these changes.
