‘The genie’s out of the bottle on this one’: Seema Verma hints at the future of telehealth for CMS beneficiaries

When the COVID-19 pandemic began and it became clear telehealth would be necessary for physicians and nurses to treat patients remotely, CMS boosted rates for telehealth visits so they matched rates for in-clinic visits and would sustain providers during the pandemic.

CMS also relaxed its guidelines about the type of telehealth visits it would cover, making them accessible to nearly all beneficiaries and situations. Health systems pivoted to virtual visits for primary care and non-emergent visits as well as check-ins for patients with chronic conditions. Private payers followed suit and many updated their coverage guidelines and rates through this summer.

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