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Telehealth Update: Connect for Health Act

December 10, 2019

f enacted, the CONNECT for Health Act solutions would be as follows:

Create a bridge program to help providers transition to the goals of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) and the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) through using telehealth and RPM without most of the aforementioned Social Security Act Section 1834(m) restrictions;
Allow telehealth and RPM to be used by qualifying participants in alternative payment models, without most of the aforementioned 1834(m) restrictions;
Permit the use of remote patient monitoring for certain patients with chronic conditions;
Allow, as originating sites, telestroke evaluation and management sites; Native American health service facilities; and dialysis facilities for home dialysis patients in certain cases;
Permit further telehealth and RPM in community health centers and rural health clinics;
Allow telehealth and RPM to be basic benefits in Medicare Advantage, without most of the aforementioned 1834(m) restrictions; and
Clarify that the provision of telehealth or RPM technologies made under Medicare by a health care provider for the purpose of furnishing these services shall not be considered “remuneration.”