By: Fabiola Carrión
Executive Summary
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) define telehealth as the use of telecommunications and information technology to provide access to health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, supervision, and information across distances. States have broad authority to decide how to cover telehealth for the delivery of Medicaid-covered services, including the methods of communication, such as telephonic, video technology commonly available on smartphones and other devices. Consequently, telehealth reimbursement policies in Medicaid vary from state to state. If the State Medicaid program has managed care, telehealth reimbursement can also vary from plan to plan. This fact sheet explores ways that state Medicaid programs can expand telehealth, while protecting patient rights, including privacy and consent.
