Resources for Physicians
Telehealth Resources
From MedChi, The Maryland State Medical Society
- Medicare Telehealth Coding/Billing Guidelines – March 26, 2020
- Telemedicine FAQ’s – Updated March 18, 2020
From the American Medical Association (AMA)
- AMA Quick Guide to Telehealth Implementation
- The AMA has created a Digital Health Implementation Playbook that is a thorough guide on the key steps, best practices and resources to help physicians and their practices integrate technology efficiently and effectively.
From the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Key Update – 5.1.2020 – In response to efforts by organized medicine, CMS will increase payments for audio-only telephone visits between Medicare beneficiaries and their physicians to match payments for similar office and outpatient visits. This would increase payments for these services from a range of about $14-$41 to about $46-$110, and the payments are retroactive to March 1, 2020. Learn more.
- General Provider Telehealth and Telemedicine Tool Kit
- FAQs on Telehealth and HIPAA during the COVID-19 nationwide public health emergency
- Medicaid Telehealth Guidance
- Medicaid State Plan Fee-for-Service Payments for Services Delivered Via Telehealth
- Clinician Letter – 4.8.2020
From Private Payors
From SimpleVisit
- An overview of How to Get Paid for Telehealth and their Telemedicine 101 Overview
- MCMS Webinar with SimpleVisit on Rapid Implementation of Telehealth
From DrFirst
- Backline Overview: Telehealth Care Coordination in Real-Time
- In response the COVID-19 crisis, DrFirst, a Maryland-based company is offering their Backline Telehealth platform to Maryland providers free of charge for 30 days. To register for this service, please click here. Please contact Colleen George with questions.
Remote Patient Monitoring Vendors
- This list summarizes the key functionality of the various remote patient monitoring products as reported by the vendors on their own websites. Please note, the BCMA has not vetted these companies; this information is provided as a reference document for physicians seeking to implement remote patient monitoring into their practice. The listing is divided into companies who provide multi-condition remote monitoring functionality and those focused on monitoring a specific condition (e.g. diabetes, cardiac output, pain management).
From the Maryland Department of Health (MDH)
- March 26, 2020: Telehealth – Maryland State of Emergency – COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions
- Notice: RE: COVID-19 #1: Temporary Expansion of Medicaid Regulations to Permit Delivery of Telehealth Services to the Home to Mitigate Possible Spread of Novel Coronavirus (“COVID-19”)
From the Maryland Healthcare Commission (MHCC)
From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Telemedicine Webinars – American Telemedicine Association
The ATA has a regular new webinar series on a variety of topics relating to telehealth, virtual care, and COVID-19.
Questions about telehealth
The use of Telehealth during the coronavirus outbreak is highly encouraged and any physician that needs assistance setting that up for their office can contact Colleen George with the MedChi Center for the Private Practice of Medicine [email protected].
Important update from CMS about telehealth from home
3/26/20 Physicians can provide telehealth services from their home. The AMA has received clarification from CMS that physicians do not have to add their home to their Medicare enrollment file. We expect CMS to update FAQ #11 (PDF) soon.
Other helpful telehealth information
- 3/19/20 MedChi Telehealth Billing and Coding Guidelines
- 3/18/20 MedChi Telehealth FAQ
- CPT has released new billing codes for COVID-19 related care.
- Maryland Medicaid has expanded coverage of telehealth services, as has Medicare.
- From DrFirst Backline Overview: Telehealth Care Coordination in Real-Time
- In response the COVID-19 crisis, DrFirst, a Maryland-based company is offering their Backline Telehealth platform to Maryland providers free of charge for 30 days. To register for this service, please click here. Review any contract with your attorney. Staff can provide a referral to an attorney. Please contact Colleen George at MedChi with questions.
- Email [email protected] for questions or requests for more information.
