CMS has issued updated telehealth guidance following the end of the 43-day federal government shutdown, offering clarity for providers navigating billing and enrollment rules.
Here are the four main takeaways from CMS’s November FAQ:
- Retroactive payment: Medicare will pay telehealth claims for services delivered during the shutdown period.
- Flexibilities set to expire: Current Medicare telehealth waivers are scheduled to end Jan. 30 unless Congress approves an extension.
- Address rules eased for hybrid providers: Telehealth clinicians who work from home but also practice in a physical office may list their clinic address — not their home address — on Medicare enrollment and billing records.
- Virtual-only providers face different requirements: Clinicians who deliver care exclusively via telehealth must enroll using their personal home address but may keep specific street details confidential.