Telemedicine

Medicare reimbursement policies have not kept pace with doctor-patient encounters occurring outside of a traditional care setting. Legal and regulatory barriers affect the ability of providers to initiate or expand their telehealth services. Reimbursement must support providers’ use of the technology they deem best fit to achieve better patient outcomes. A national dialogue must take place concerning the patchwork of state laws and licensure barriers impeding the expansion of telemedicine and remote patient monitoring.

CHIME supports such legislative proposals as CONNECT for Health Act and the CHRONIC Care Act that seek to expand access to telehealth services for all patients, especially those in federal programs. CHIME continues to work with lawmakers to pursue policies that will be budget neutral or, at the very least, won’t raise significant concerns when scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). And, we continue to press the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to expand their reimbursement policies.

CHIME Top Recommendation to Policymakers

  • Create a more flexible reimbursement policy around the use of telehealth such that Medicare pays providers for using it and supports patient care when and where they need it

CIO Cheat Sheets

Letters to the Administration

Congressional Letters & Testimony

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

Other Resources