The Massachusetts State of Emergency is being lifted on June 15, 2021. While many commercial insurance plans have released statements indicating they will continue to cover telehealth for most providers, there will undoubtedly be changes made. Most insurances have already reinstated cost sharing; Blue Cross will begin on July 1st. Providers, at this time, can continue to bill for telehealth services as they have during the pandemic.
Here is a statement from the Massachusetts Medical Society:
The COVID-19 State of Emergency will be lifted on June 15, 2021. This change triggers the sunset of certain requirements for telehealth parity in reimbursement. While all services that can be appropriately delivered via telehealth will continue to be covered permanently, per Chapter 260 of the Acts of 2020, some requirements for parity in reimbursement will sunset at various times, depending on the type of care. Specifically:
Behavioral health services, including those delivered through interactive audio-visual and audio-only technologies, will continue to be reimbursed on par with in-person services in perpetuity.
Primary care and chronic disease management services will be reimbursed at parity for two years from the effective date of C.260, through calendar year 2022.
The requirement to reimburse all other services delivered via telehealth at parity will no longer be statutorily mandated starting 90 days after the close of the state of emergency, or September 13, 2021.We will continue to post updates regarding telehealth as insurances release announcements.
Premier Medical Billing, LLC
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