New York (April 30, 2020)—The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) today commended the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which announced a new round of regulatory waivers and rule changes aligned with feedback from the AGS. Specifically, CMS now broadened its list of telephone/audio-only services to include behavioral health care and patient education. CMS also increased reimbursement for telephone/audio visits, so they remain on par with reimbursement for similar office and outpatient care.
“For geriatrics health professionals, telehealth has emerged as an invaluable tool for ensuring that older Americans have access to the care they need,” said AGS Chief Executive Officer Nancy Lundebjerg, MPA. “One challenge has been how best to care for older adults, many of whom are not comfortable with or do not have resources like smartphones or are uncomfortable operating audio/video-capable software and mobile applications. This change from CMS will help ensure that medically complex older adults will have access to their clinicians using familiar technology.”
Across a series of letters, the most recent sent to Congressional leaders and members of the Trump Administration on April 16, the AGS has emphasized the importance of telehealth in caring for all Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. In earlier actions, CMS had waived limitations on the types of practitioners who could provide certain telehealth services, though many older adults—particularly those served by rural health and federally qualified clinics—still lacked adequate coverage due to technicalities. The new changes hold promise not only for expanding telehealth options but also for responding directly to feedback from geriatrics professionals and others across healthcare, who hope to see telehealth services expand and reimbursement be aligned with traditional face-to-face care.
In addition to the expansion of telehealth services and reimbursement, the AGS also acknowledged several other important updates aligned with its feedback, including expanding the role of pharmacists in assessment and testing (consistent with their scope of practice and state law) and providing greater flexibility for clinicians who care for Americans with diabetes.
The AGS expressed gratitude to Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Joe Manchin (D-WV), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) for their work in supporting these issues, and looks forward to reviewing the interim final rule when it is released.
About the American Geriatrics Society
Founded in 1942, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) is a nationwide, not-for-profit society of geriatrics healthcare professionals that has—for more than 75 years—worked to improve the health, independence, and quality of life of older people. Its nearly 6,000 members include geriatricians, geriatric nurses, social workers, family practitioners, physician assistants, pharmacists, and internists. The Society provides leadership to healthcare professionals, policymakers, and the public by implementing and advocating for programs in patient care, research, professional and public education, and public policy. For more information, visit AmericanGeriatrics.org.