04/17/2019

LeadingAge Ohio Comments on ODM Telehealth Rule

This week, LeadingAge Ohio submitted comments on the proposed changes to ODM’s telehealth rule. The draft rule incorporated the majority of the recommendations LeadingAge Ohio made last summer during a stakeholder process on the anticipated rule revision. These changes included:

• Expanding the definition of “patient site” to include private homes and assisted living;
• Removing restrictions for the “practitioner site” when caring for an established (active) patient;
• Expanding the list of licensed professionals that would be reimbursable for telehealth to include physician assistants and licensed independent social workers;
• Removal of the five-mile radius requirement.

Specifically, LeadingAge Ohio offered comments on:

• Clarification on coding the practitioner site, for practitioners who are using telehealth in the community.
• Concern related to only allowing payment for visits involving straightforward/low complexity decision-making; and
• Concern over the elimination of the originating site fee, which can offset the capital costs incurred in the acquisition of telehealth equipment.  

Questions regarding the rule updates may be directed to Susan Wallace, Director of Government Relations and Public Affairs, at swallace@leadingageohio.org.