As states return to their pre-COVID-19 licensure requirements, please consider these legal and licensure implications. 

In the wake of the pandemic, many practices have decided to adopt and implement telemedicine to reach their patients and continue to give them the care they need. Considering this, Professionals Advocate has temporarily suspended the underwriting rule that initial patient interactions need to be face-to-face. Insureds can now see both new and established patients via telemedicine services. As always, we recommend documenting these visits contemporaneously. To summarize, here are some key pieces of information regarding telemedicine:

• Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) has recently waived rules not limited to visits related to COVID-19. Effectively, it allows for the use of services like FaceTime and Skype for visits.
• With the increasing use of telehealth, Doctors need to develop a good "webside" manner. Here are 20 tips to improve this virtual skillset. 
• Many health insurance carriers are waiving out-of-pocket costs for telehealth visits. It would be best to consult the individual carriers you contract with to see what their respective parameters are.
• MedChi, has provided a quick guide on Medicare Telehealth Coding/Billing Guidelines.
• As noted above, Professionals Advocate has changed its underwriting rule concerning telemedicine.
• To read the article "Telemedicine: Welcome to The Future" by Rachel E. Brown and John T. Sly of Waranch & Brown, click here.
  
• Centers for Medicare & Medicare Services (CMS) Telemedicine Fact Sheet and Telehealth for Providers: What You Need to Know
• If you wish to incorporate telemedicine in your practice, we recommend using one of the following telemedicine consent forms as a template for your practice. Please note, these are examples and they should be tailored to fit your practice needs. Please see below:
  • From the American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Updated Sample Consent Form

COVID-19 Updates and Resources:

 Professionals Advocate Updates | Policy Coverage Issues | Legislative, Regulatory, Judicial Issues | Frequently Asked Questions

Reopening Your Office | Protecting Your Patients | Protecting You and Your Staff | Risk Management