Becker's Healthcare July 6, 2020
CMS Administrator Seema Verma reiterated the success of telehealth during the pandemic and said the agency continues to weigh multiple factors when deciding how to implement permanent telehealth coverage and reimbursement rates, including the potential for fraud, during an interview with Business Insider.
She said the temporary lift of coverage restrictions and pay rate boost during the pandemic allowed virtual visits to surge. Before the pandemic, the agency provided 13,000 telehealth visits per week, while by April 25 it covered 1.7 million virtual visits per week. While she said in the interview that “the case for telehealth is clear” and that Congress ultimately decides which providers can use virtual visits, CMS can change several regulations.
There is some fear among...