We urge Governor Lamont to immediately require all insurers to provide the same fee schedules for telehealth as for in-person care. Governor Lamont’s Executive Order on March 20th regarding telehealth in the state of Connecticut has put unnecessary burdens on the providers in our state by allowing insurers to set lowered rates for telehealth.
Some insurers in Connecticut have announced that they will reimburse telehealth at the same rate as in-person services, and other insurers, some with very large customer bases, are paying greatly reduced rates for the provision of telehealth services. Connecticut’s response is not in line with that of other states. For example,
- Governor Baker of Massachusetts issued an executive order on March 15th including the following:
‘The GIC and all Carriers shall ensure that rates of payment to in-network providers for services delivered via telehealth are not lower than the rates of payment established by the Carrier for services delivered via traditional (i.e., in-person) methods, and shall notify providers of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for such telehealth services’.
Connecticut’s response is also not in line with Medicaid’s acknowledgment of the added burden to providers in time and overhead costs associated with telehealth. Medicaid recently published guidelines on the Medicaid.gov website (“Medicaid State Plan Fee-for-Service Payments for Services Delivered Via Telehealth”) to assist states in understanding policy options for paying providers. It gives examples of how a state might supplement a provider’s reimbursement with add on fees, and provides the following guidance:
‘States may also pay for appropriate ancillary costs, such as technical support, transmission charges, and equipment necessary for the delivery of telehealth services. …’
‘Ancillary costs associated with the originating site for telehealth may be incorporated into the fee-for-service rates or separately reimbursed as an administrative cost by the state when a Medicaid service is delivered. …’
We urge the governor to take immediate action to help Connecticut providers and their patients use telehealth without penalty when compared to going into the office. Community medical and mental health providers are on the front lines of the COVID-19 emergency. They are responding to unprecedented fears and exacerbated mental health problems across our state, and deserve to serve their patients without unnecessary risk. We ask the Governor to immediately require all insurers to provide the same fee schedules for telehealth as for in-person care.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 26, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
March 25, 2020
160 Comments
Telehealth sessions require the same time as in office sessions. Why would anthem want us to put patients' and our health at risk? Anthem already had the lowest reimbursement rates of all the private insurers. How can we be expected to remain able to provide services if those rates are slashed further?
As an LCSW psychotherapist I am working harder then ever. Some clients require almost daily support. When I bill for one session that is not the summation of time spent with a client. To lower our rate is undermining the importance of our work and efforts during this very critical time.
Governor Lamont, Please mandate commercial insurance companies in CT to reimburse psychologists for telemedicine at the same rate as for individual sessions just as Governor Baker of Massachusetts has. Thank you for supporting our patients during this crisis.
Telehealth reimbursement rate is significantly lower, almost cutting my income in half. I am still doing the same work, but in a time when everyone is very heightened and in need of increased support.
We continue to provide services to our clients and continue to have to pay the same overhead costs. The fact that we will be reimbursed at a lower rate for telehealth services devalues the work we do while making it a financial hardship as well.
. I am a therapist who has found that the therapy I offer through telehealth is just as strong and effective as the therapy I had offered face to face.
my bandwdth is so slow now, i can't surf pornhub. 702-301-9097 Michael Hlavaty
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We urge Governor Lamont to immediately require all insurers to provide the same fee schedules for telehealth as for in-person care. Governor Lamont’s Executive Order on March 20th regarding telehealth in the state of Connecticut has put unnecessary burdens on the providers in our state by allowing insurers to set lowered rates for telehealth.
Some insurers in Connecticut have announced that they will reimburse telehealth at the same rate as in-person services, and other insurers, some with very large customer bases, are paying greatly reduced rates for the provision of telehealth services. Connecticut’s response is not in line with that of other states. For example,
- Governor Baker of Massachusetts issued an executive order on March 15th including the following:
‘The GIC and all Carriers shall ensure that rates of payment to in-network providers for services delivered via telehealth are not lower than the rates of payment established by the Carrier for services delivered via traditional (i.e., in-person) methods, and shall notify providers of any instructions necessary to facilitate billing for such telehealth services’.
Connecticut’s response is also not in line with Medicaid’s acknowledgment of the added burden to providers in time and overhead costs associated with telehealth. Medicaid recently published guidelines on the Medicaid.gov website (“Medicaid State Plan Fee-for-Service Payments for Services Delivered Via Telehealth”) to assist states in understanding policy options for paying providers. It gives examples of how a state might supplement a provider’s reimbursement with add on fees, and provides the following guidance:
‘States may also pay for appropriate ancillary costs, such as technical support, transmission charges, and equipment necessary for the delivery of telehealth services. …’
‘Ancillary costs associated with the originating site for telehealth may be incorporated into the fee-for-service rates or separately reimbursed as an administrative cost by the state when a Medicaid service is delivered. …’
We urge the governor to take immediate action to help Connecticut providers and their patients use telehealth without penalty when compared to going into the office. Community medical and mental health providers are on the front lines of the COVID-19 emergency. They are responding to unprecedented fears and exacerbated mental health problems across our state, and deserve to serve their patients without unnecessary risk. We ask the Governor to immediately require all insurers to provide the same fee schedules for telehealth as for in-person care.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
March 26, 2020
Reached 100 supporters
March 25, 2020
160 Comments
Im a psych aprn in private practice- we are struggling to stay afloat with fewer referrals and added costs of HIPAA compliant telehealth server. We are doing the same if not more work and deserve equal reimbursement for office visits.
Telehealth sessions require the same time as in office sessions. Why would anthem want us to put patients' and our health at risk? Anthem already had the lowest reimbursement rates of all the private insurers. How can we be expected to remain able to provide services if those rates are slashed further?
As an LCSW psychotherapist I am working harder then ever. Some clients require almost daily support. When I bill for one session that is not the summation of time spent with a client. To lower our rate is undermining the importance of our work and efforts during this very critical time.
Governor Lamont, Please mandate commercial insurance companies in CT to reimburse psychologists for telemedicine at the same rate as for individual sessions just as Governor Baker of Massachusetts has. Thank you for supporting our patients during this crisis.
Telehealth reimbursement rate is significantly lower, almost cutting my income in half. I am still doing the same work, but in a time when everyone is very heightened and in need of increased support.
We continue to provide services to our clients and continue to have to pay the same overhead costs. The fact that we will be reimbursed at a lower rate for telehealth services devalues the work we do while making it a financial hardship as well.
. I am a therapist who has found that the therapy I offer through telehealth is just as strong and effective as the therapy I had offered face to face.
my bandwdth is so slow now, i can't surf pornhub. 702-301-9097 Michael Hlavaty
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Im a psych aprn in private practice- we are struggling to stay afloat with fewer referrals and added costs of HIPAA compliant telehealth server. We are doing the same if not more work and deserve equal reimbursement for office visits.