older woman looking at computer

Telehealth clearly has been a game-changer for the home care field. Given telehealth’s potential for reducing costs and infection risks while expanding access, it’s not difficult to see why.

Operators have pounced on new apps and video options to make virtual visits seem almost routine. And the sector is bullish on an expanded role for service and payment expansions going forward.

On the regulatory front, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently implemented several policy changes intended to expand telehealth’s role while the COVID-19 epidemic continues. Among the most notable: waiving limitations on which type of clinical practitioners can provide care, and expanding telehealth payments for rural settings.  

In June, CMS upped the ante by proposing a rule allowing telehealth services to be covered under Medicare as part of its annual update. By some estimates, this shift could increase payments to home care providers by 2.6%.

Home care operators welcome these and other expansion plans. However, a congressional advisory group has warned that CMS may be playing too fast and loose with telehealth. The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission has called for new safeguards – both to ensure cost savings and adequate in-person care.

Given the high fiscal and caregiving stakes involved, the debate appears likely to intensify in the months and possibly even the years ahead.