Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Resources for CMS members

COVID-19 Telehealth

Telehealth and Virtual Private Practice Strategies (Webinar)

• OCR will exercise its enforcement discretion and will not impose penalties for noncompliance with the regulatory requirements under the HIPAA Rules against covered health care providers in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. 3/17/20

• AMA quick guide to telemedicine

Private Payers

• EXECUTIVE ORDER D 2020 020 Ordering the Temporary Suspension of Certain Statutes to Expand the Use of Telehealth Services Due to the Presence of COVID-19, 4/1/2020

• The DOI is requiring CO-regulated plans to create emergency exceptions for coverage of telehealth, prescription refills, and cost-shares.​

  • DOI Contact information on page 3 for each health insurance company regarding telehealth services)

• Fact Sheet: DOI Emergency Regulation 20-E-05
  Insurance Carriers are Required to reimburse providers for telehealth services during the COVID-19 Emergency

 Medicare

• CMS.gov: General Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit

• Trump Administration Further Promotes Telehealth in Medicare, 3/30/2020

• President Trump announces physicians can now provide common office visits, mental health counseling, and preventative health screening to beneficiaries via telemedicine regardless of geographic location.​ 3/17/20

  • CMS.gov: Medicare Telemedicine Fact Sheet, 3/17/20

• CMS information on coverage and reimbursement for providers treating Medicare beneficiaries.

• CMS Press Release regarding financial relief for medicare providers. 3/30/20

• CMS COVID-19-specific FAQs for Providers treating Medicare beneficiaries.

• CMS.gov: New ICD-10-CM Code and Interim Coding Guidance 

• Get the quick facts on the Coronavirus Spending Bill as it relates to telehealth.

 Medicaid​

• HCPF: Temporary Authorization of Telemedicine Services During COVID-19 State of Emergency, 3/18/20

• COVID-19 Resource center for Medicaid providers and patients.

• Temporary changes in response to COVID-19 allow providers to utilize telephone and live chats, FQHCs, RHCs, and HIS are able to bill for telemedicine services, and the list of providers allowed to practice via telemedicine has been expanded to include PTs, OTs, home health, hospice, and pediatric behavioral health providers.​

  • HCPF overview of Health First Colorado’s Telemedicine Program.