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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

CCHP Creates "COVID-19 Related State Actions" Resource

The Center for Connected Health Policy has created a resource which provides links to all state-related actions on telehealth that have been issued in response to the COVID-19 crisis. 

COVID-19 Weekly Updates

COVID-19 Weekly Updates

COVID-19 Updates—Week of April 3, 2020

Academy Telehealth Update and Guide

Audiologists are beginning to employ creative solutions to assist their patients while mitigating the risk of further transmission of the virus.

Some former face-to-face visits are now being handled via telephone, video, and/or remote connection to hearing aid devices. Many audiologists are wondering if these remote services can be billed and reimbursed. This guide will help you understand options that are available to audiologists at the present time.

Treasury Department Releases Application Form and Fact Sheet for Forgivable Small Businesses Loans

Small businesses and sole proprietorships can apply starting on April, 3, 2020. The application form can be found here.  

For more details about the program, access the accompanying fact sheet from the Treasury Department.

 

Advocacy Updates

Statements from Academy Leadership

CEU-Eligible Online Education

The Academy is committed to ensuring audiologists have access to virtual CEU-eligible educational resources during this challenging time. 

On-demand seminars and live webinars are now available on eAudiology.org, and live webinars are scheduled throughout April. New webinars will be added each month. 

Brought to you by the AAA Foundation’s Educational Fund. Thank you to those who donated their AAA 2020 + HearTECH Expo Conference refunds toward this educational fund.

COVID-19 Telehealth Update and Guidance

Audiologists are beginning to employ creative solutions to assist their patients while mitigating the risk of further transmission of the virus. Some former face-to-face visits are now being handled via telephone, video, and/or remote connection to hearing aid devices. Many audiologists are wondering if these remote services can be billed and reimbursed. This guide will help you understand options that are available to audiologists at the present time.

Academy Urges CMS to Lift the Medicare Physician Order Requirement and Allow Audiologists to Provide Services via Telehealth

The Academy submitted a letter to CMS today urging them to exercise their regulatory authority to waive the physician order requirement currently required before an Medicare beneficiary may access the services of an audiologist.

State Telehealth Resource Including Medicaid Reimbursement, Private Payer Laws, and Occupation-Specific Regulations  

The Center for Connected Health Policy has released a state telehealth resource that outlines state Medicaid reimbursement, the existence of any private payer laws, as well as any occupational licensing board specific regulations with regard to the provision of services via telehealth.  

Academy Requests CMS Exercise Its Regulatory Authority to Allow Coverage of Audiology Services Via Telehealth

In a letter to the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), the Academy requests that the Agency exercise the full extent of its regulatory authority to allow Medicare beneficiaries to access audiology services via telehealth.

Telehealth and Medicare/Medicaid

Medicare regulations do not currently recognize audiologists as eligible providers of telemedicine services. The Academy has long advocated to change this, and we are currently working with congressional leaders to seek inclusion of such a change in legislation moving forward to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Academy Collaborates with Other Allied Health-Care Associations to Mitigate Coronavirus Impact on Members and Patients

The Academy is working with other allied health professional associations to identify actionable strategies to mitigate the coronavirus situation impact on members. Across the board, allied health professional associations are sharing concerns about the impact the current situation may have on small business healthcare providers as well as potential shortages of protective equipment such as masks and sanitizing products.

Academy Comments to CMS Highlight Disproportionate Impact of Expected 2021 Medicare Payment Reductions on Audiology

The Academy submitted a letter  to CMS to supplement related comments submitted collectively with other physician and non-physician provider groups about the impact of the expected 2021 reimbursement reductions. The Academy letter highlights some of the nuances of these planned reductions in relation to providing audiological care. 

Academy Comments to CMS Highlight Disproportionate Impact of Expected 2021 Medicare Payment Reductions on Audiology

The Academy submitted a letter  to CMS to supplement related comments submitted collectively with other physician and non-physician provider groups about the impact of the expected 2021 reimbursement reductions. The Academy letter highlights some of the nuances of these planned reductions in relation to providing audiological care.