CMS has approved several revisions to the physician fee schedule that will expand coverage of telemedicine services, effective January 2014.
The changes expand the geographical areas where telehealth can be provided to most areas outside a defined metropolitan area, as well as adding coverage for transitional care management and chronic care services.
The American Telemedicine Association, which had lobbied for many of the changes, applauds CMS' actions. "The proposed new rules, while incremental, represent another step toward integrating the use of telecommunications technology into the delivery of healthcare," said Jonathan D. Linkous, CEO of ATA, in a news release. "ATA encourages CMS to finalize these changes."
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