Resources & Reports

A focus around accessing substance use disorder (SUD) treatment via telehealth has strengthened during the course of the pandemic both in terms of policy and research. Some of the latest long-term federal policy developments around telehealth have centered around mental health and SUD services. In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) which included a change that allowed for the provision of mental health and substance use disorder services in the home without geographic limitations, if the patient had an in-person visit with the telehealth provider within six months prior to the telehealth service taking place.

The Center for Connected Health Policy’s (CCHP) updated billing guide for 2022, Billing for Telehealth Encounters: An Introductory Guide on Medicare Fee-For-Service is now available!! With the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) tracking telehealth policy has become even more complex and varied, therefore the billing guide seeks to break down permanent post-PHE policies versus temporary PHE policy exceptions, as well as new legislative and administrative requirements relevant to telehealth billing. Many new requirements will only kick in post-PHE.

On March 15^th President Biden signed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022.  This bill will extend federal telehealth flexibilities for 151 days post-public health emergency (PHE), including PHE location, provider, and audio-only expansions, and includes new report requirements.  A delay to the new in-person telemental health visit requirement in Medicare was also included for the same period of time.