Lacktman Discusses New Reimbursement Rule for Virtual Check-Ins

Partner Nate Lacktman was quoted in a Healthcare Informatics article, “Healthcare Leaders Praise Telehealth Advancements, Delayed E&M Coding Changes in Recent CMS Rule,” about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) decision to begin reimbursing health care providers for certain virtual care visits with patients.

Reimbursing providers for virtual check-ins, Lacktman said, exemplifies CMS’ renewed vision and desire to bring the Medicare program into the future of clinically-valid virtual care services, though he noted that the virtual check-in has to be conducted by the physician or a qualified health care professional, not office staff. He also said patient consent to use telehealth is required each time the provider connects with the patient.

“Providers frustrated with the labyrinthine and narrow Medicare coverage of telehealth services can take comfort in the fact that virtual check-ins are not considered a Medicare telehealth service,” he said.