We spoke with the TexLa Telehealth Resource Center, this morning. Denae Hebert who is the Healthcare Innovator Manager for TexLa, provided us a few resources that I found would be very beneficial to you. In addition resources from Humana, UHC and Medicaid.
- https://www.walpen.org/covid-19
- This is full of resources for LA.
- Webinars, FAQ and specific updates from payors on this website.
- Any update that the TexLa receives is updated on this page specifically to Medicare and Medicaid.
- Webinar linked below was a COVID-19 Q&A from 3/24/20. Move to 22 minutes this is the beginning of discussing updates for Telemedicine Regulatory and Billing Changes by Denae.
| Consent Forms
You want to do your due diligence to obtain a consent form on file for telehealth; however, if you are unable to obtain consent form, get verbal consent and obtain written consent at a later date. |
Humana
- https://www.humana.com/provider/coronavirus/telemedicine
- Humana has waived cost sharing for in-network providers through telehealth at the same rate as in office visits
- Humana will approve phone visits as telehealth visits and reimburse at the office rate
UHC
- https://www.uhcprovider.com/en/resource-library/news/Novel-Coronavirus-COVID-19/covid19-telehealth-services.html
- UHC has broken down telehealth to reflect CMS three types of visits: telehealth, virtual visits and e-visits
- Please refer to the Coronis blast from 3/26/20 that explains the break down of each of these visits.
BCBS LA
- Update as of 3/26/20 https://files.constantcontact.com/de2417c8101/8424616f-47e7-4514-b4a5-1088533b0285.pdf
- Allowing credentialed, in-network dietitians be approved for telehealth
- Physicians can provide telephone services with existing and new patients.
Medicaid
- https://ldh.la.gov/index.cfm/page/3872
- In a case where you are unable to do a video visit, you are able to do a phone visit. You need to document why a video was unable to be used.
- This will be paid at an office visit level.
Approved CPT codes for Medicaid: 3/24/20
Payor updates from memo sent on 3/23/20
Medicare
- CMS Emergency page: https://www.cms.gov/About-CMS/Agency-Information/Emergency/EPRO/Current-Emergencies/Current-Emergencies-page
- CMS Telehealth approved CPT codes as of 11/19
- CMS has removed the originating site restriction
- Updated code detail from CMS 3.17.20 https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/medicare-telemedicine-health-care-provider-fact-sheet
BCBS LA
- BCBS LA is waiving any cost sharing (co-payment, deductible and co-insurance) for BCBS LA patients with telehealth if the patient and provider uses the BlueCare option for telehealth.
- If a provider uses another platform such as MD Coder, Zoom or other option, the patient as of 3/16/20 is responsible for cost sharing tied to their benefits for telehealth.
- https://www.bcbsla.com/landing/covid19
- Update on telehealth policy as of 3/20/20
- Telemedicine/Telehealth manual updated December 2019