In recent years, Nebraska has made huge strides in their telemedicine efforts. The state passed a parity law in 2017 that requires private payers to cover telemedicine services. The same year, Nebraska joined the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, making it easier for providers from all over the country to practice medicine in the Cornhusker state. Nebraska is also unique for requiring private insurance and state employee health plans to cover treatment of autism via telehealth.
Written or email consent required before initial service delivery.
Q: Can Nebraska Medicaid be billed for services provided through telehealth?
A: Medicaid is authorized to make payment for services provided through telehealth as set out in the Nebraska
Telehealth Act. Providers must be enrolled as a Nebraska Medicaid provider and comply with HIPAA requirements
and guidance from the HHS Office for Civil Rights. The Nebraska Telehealth Act’s requirement that Medicaid
providers obtain prior written consent from patients has been determined to be suspended during the declared
emergency, as discussed above.
Live video will be reimbursed as a synchronous electronic exchange.
VIRTUAL CHECK-INS: In all areas (not just rural), established Medicare patients in their home may have a brief communication service with practitioners via a number of communication technology modalities including synchronous discussion over a telephone or exchange of information through video or image. We expect that these virtual services will be initiated by the patient; however, practitioners may need to educate beneficiaries on the availability of the service prior to patient initiation.
EXPANSION OF TELEHEALTH WITH 1135 WAIVER: Under this new waiver, Medicare can pay for office, hospital, and other visits furnished via telehealth across the country and including in patient’s places of residence starting March 6, 2020. A range of providers, such as doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers, will be able to offer telehealth to their patients. Additionally, the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) is providing flexibility for healthcare providers to reduce or waive cost-sharing for telehealth visits paid by federal healthcare programs.
Medicare telehealth reimbursement is greatly dependent upon federal legislation and the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) policies. In some cases, federal legislation will open reimbursement opportunities and, in other cases, CMS will proactively modify policies in their process of creating annual Physician Fee Schedules. The annual Physician Fee Schedule will be preceded by a proposed rule change that includes a comment period.
Reference PDF
COVID-19 General Statewide Telehealth FAQ