CMS proposes to overhaul Medicare billing standards, pay for telehealth

The CMS on Thursday proposed paying doctors for virtual visits and overhauling Medicare billing standards it has had in place since the 1990s.

In a lengthy proposed rule, the agency said it would pay doctors for their time when they reach out to beneficiaries via telephone or other telecommunications devices to decide whether an office visit or other service is needed. In addition, the CMS also proposed paying for the time it takes physicians to review a video or image sent by patient seeking care or diagnosis for an ailment.

“This is a big issue for elderly and disabled population for which transportation can be a barrier to care,” CMS Administrator Seema Verma said. “We’re not intending to replace...