Home Health & Hospice Week

The major expansion of telehealth services provided to Medicare beneficiaries is about to undergo scrutiny, regardless of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The HHS Office of Inspector General plans to “examine the extent to which telehealth services are being used by Medicare beneficiaries, how the use of these services compares to the use of the same services delivered face-to-face, and the different types of providers and beneficiaries using telehealth services, the OIG says in a new Work Plan topic. In a separate review, the OIG also will “identify program integrity risks with Medicare telehealth services to ensure their appropriate use and reimbursement during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The OIG’s findings will inform the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services as it explores whether telehealth flexibilities implemented during the pandemic should be extended, the OIG indicates at www.oig.hhs.gov/reports-and-publications/workplan/summary/wp-summary-0000491.asp. The report is expected next year.