Medicare Telehealth Frequently Asked Questions

Medicare issued a waiver for telehealth services for the public health emergency. But which services are allowed, and who are permitted to furnish them? Keep reading to find answers to these and many more questions!

Question: What services can be offered via telehealth in the period of waiver for the public health

emergency (PHE) declared by the Secretary under the section 1135 waiver authority?

Answer: Telehealth services allowed by Medicare include many of the services that are normally furnished in person. The CMS has a list of services that may be furnished via Medicare telehealth, which is available here:

https://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Medicare-General-Information/Telehealth/Telehealth-Codes

Question: Which health care practitioners are permitted to provide telehealth services under the broadened 1135 waiver authority granted by the CARES Act?

Answer: With the waiver, any health care practitioner who is authorized to bill Medicare for their professional services can provide and bill for telehealth services. Meaning, health care professionals who were not previously authorized under the statute to furnish and bill for Medicare telehealth services, such as physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and others, can receive payment for Medicare telehealth services. Also, telehealth services performed by auxiliary personnel, such as respiratory therapists, who cannot independently bill Medicare for their services can be furnished and billed incident to the services of an eligible billing practitioner.

Question: Does a health care provider need any specialized equipment to furnish Medicare telehealth services?