The New York Department of Health has moved to allow telephone and virtual care services for Medicaid beneficiaries during the coronavirus pandemic, according to the National Law Review.
Starting with dates of service beginning March 13, Medicaid will now reimburse telephone-based evaluations and management services for established patients when in-person visits are not medically recommended.
Under New York's State of Emergency declaration, telephone visits that are documented as clinically appropriate by the provider will be considered medically necessary for Medicaid payments.
Prior amendments to the New York Insurance and Public Health Laws require that services that are covered under a comprehensive health insurance policy or contract must be covered when the service is delivered via telehealth for New York Medicaid Managed Care plans. The state's health department is encouraging the use of telehealth to provide COVID-19 related services to Medicaid recipients.