New CMS Rules Expand Medicare Reimbursement

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently published a new Public Health Emergency Rule regarding Section 3704 of the CARES Act, passed on March 27. The rule expands telehealth services available to Medicare beneficiaries from Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs). It states that during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare beneficiaries can receive distant site telehealth services from any provider working in an RHC or FQHC, including mental health counselors. Counselors must be working in one of these settings and be supervised by a CMS-approved provider.

These changes are temporary and are set to expire after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency is lifted. However, this rule marks significant progress in our fight to allow counselors to bill Medicare. For more information, you can visit the CMS webpage explaining the rule change. If you are unsure if your facility qualifies, contact govtaffairs@nbcc.org and we can assist you.