Along with patients presenting via remote video, doctors using telemedicine for Medicaid encounters should have Oct. 1 on their radar screens.
That’s when Texas Medicaid’s updated benefit policy language on telemedicine and telehealth for managed care organizations takes effect. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) updated its telemedicine policies as part of its implementation of last year’s Senate Bill 1107, the TMA-backed measure that established a clear framework for telemedicine in Texas.
The policy change document includes key definitions and what must exist to establish a valid practitioner-patient relationship for the purposes of telemedicine. It also lists the types of telemedicine delivery modalities allowed in fee-for-service Medicaid, as well as the requirements for issuing prescriptions as part of a telemedicine service. The language also covers documentation requirements for telemedicine and telehealth.
HHSC says the changes will be reflected in the Texas Medicaid Provider Procedures Manual (TMPPM) Vol. 2: Telecommunication Services Handbook, which will be released Oct. 1.
Last Updated On
September 27, 2018
Originally Published On
September 25, 2018