Premier and America’s Physician Groups Call for CMS to Remove Impediments to Telehealth During COVID-19 Emergency

Premier and America’s Physician Groups (APG) sent a letter thanking CMS for recent actions taken to improve patient access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 public emergency and requesting assistance in addressing other important remaining impediments to the use of telehealth. Specifically, Premier and APG urged CMS to:

• Modify telehealth payment to match in-office rate for clinicians who typically provide care in an office;
• Allow for audio only communication; and
• Allow additional clinicians to bill for telehealth in recognition of expansion of scope of practice for many clinicians.