Telehealth Billing Rule Adds to Documentation and Financial Burden for Health Systems
Healthcare Finance News
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Contributed by: Kate Gamble
Summary
The American Telehealth Association (ATA) is seeking clarification from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding new telehealth billing rules that could impose significant financial burdens on healthcare systems, with estimates reaching an annual cost of $1 million for larger organizations. This regulation requires telehealth providers to bill separately for each location, including home addresses, which raises concerns over privacy and may push hospitals to pull part-time telehealth practitioners back on-site. As these rules are set to begin on January 1, 2026, the ATA is advocating for increased clarity to mitigate the potential administrative and financial challenges facing healthcare providers and ensure the ongoing viability of telehealth services.
