Telehealth encompasses the technologies and tactics to deliver virtual medical, health and education services. With the COVID-19 pandemic, Medicare and other payors have significantly eased service and billing restrictions on telehealth, posing an opportunity for organizations to supplement or enhance reimbursement revenue during this time of emergency. Recent changes in regulations have extended coverage and reimbursement for telehealth into other areas such home health, psychiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech language pathology. It is highly possible that implementing a strong telehealth foundation will not only assist in short term viability during this crisis, but also pave the way for a vastly altered care delivery landscape moving forward.

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Key Points:

1. Telehealth is an appropriate approach to address the needs of the patient and healthcare organization related to COVID-19.
2. Federal and state agencies have relaxed and expanded laws and regulations surrounding the delivery and reimbursement of telehealth. However increased audit and review of telemedicine services will be likely once the current crisis ends.
3. Documentation will be a critical step to ensuring long-term viability of any/all telemedicine offering.
4. In consideration of expanding telehealth into an organization, providers should consider the legal, regulatory and contracting elements prior to implementing operational workflows within clinical operations and revenue cycle.