Medicare Updated Telehealth Factsheet June 2023
On November 15, 2024, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finalized a one-year extension of telehealth prescribing flexibilities for controlled substances, extending the policy through December 31, 2025. This extension allows healthcare providers to continue prescribing Schedule II-V controlled substances via telehealth without requiring an in-person visit. The decision was made in response to the ongoing need for accessible healthcare and to ensure a smooth transition for patients and providers who have come to rely on telehealth services.
Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications
On May 9, 2023, ahead of the expiration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued the “Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications” —a temporary rule that extends telemedicine flexibilities adopted during the COVID-19 PHE.
LEARN MORE – US DEPT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
New HIPPA Telehealth Regulations in 2023 LEARN MORE
Bottom Line: what does the May 11 end of HHS’s Telehealth HIPAA enforcement discretion mean?
Federal Register/Vol. 85. No. 77/Tuesday, April 21, 2020/Rules and Regulations
| Under this Nonfiction, covered health care providers may use popular applications that allow for video chats, including Apple Face Time, Facebook Messenger video chat, Google Hangouts video, zoom, or Skype to provide telehealth without risk that OCR might seek to impose a penalty for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules related to the good faith provision of telehealth during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency. | 1. Since March 2020, providers have been allowed to use non-HIPAA compliant video chat applications to deliver telehealth services
2. On May 11, 2023 this policy of “enforcement discretion” will end & HHS’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) will resume enforcement of penalties on providers for noncompliance with HIPAA rules for telehealth technology use.
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OCR is providing a 90-calendar day transition period for covered health care providers to come into compliance with the HIPAA Rules with respect to their provision of telehealth. The transition period will be in effect beginning on May 12, 2023 and will expire at 11:59 p.m. on August 9, 2023. LEARN MORE
Telehealth policy changes after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency LEARN MORE
Telemedicine Policy Post COVID-19 PHE – CCHP – Michigan LEARN MORE
MLN Booklet – Telehealth Services LEARN MORE
CMS List of Telehealth Services LEARN MORE
Medicare Telehealth Payment Eligibility Analyzer Learn More