NCART publishes position paper on telehealth
By HME News Staff
Updated 9:32 AM CST, Thu December 9, 2021
EAST AMHERST, N.Y. – NCART has published a position paper on why Congress must preserve the current telehealth option for complex rehab-related services required by Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. The paper lists the benefits to beneficiaries of a permanent telehealth option, including reduced exposure to viruses and other health risks, improved access to qualified practitioners, reduced transportation challenges and improved understanding of functional activities in the home. “This CRT telehealth option must be made permanent for Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities, many of whom have multiple co‐morbidities, so they can continue to have remote access to CRT evaluations, fittings, and training when an in‐person visit is not possible due to medical risks and other factors,” it states. “Rather than allowing these proven flexibilities to expire and cause harm to Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities, Congress must take legislative action to make these CRT telehealth policies permanent.” The paper asks Congress to, specifically, permanently add “therapy services, physical and occupational therapy, all levels” CPT codes needed for CRT to the Medicare Telehealth Services List; and permanently add PTs and OTs as authorized Medicare telehealth services practitioners for the provision of CRT services covered by these codes.”
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