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. The Academy is here to support its members, and we appreciate that our members want to continue to serve patients and their communities during this unprecedented situation. Please note that some state Medicaid programs will reimburse audiology codes with a GT modifier as long as there is justification for how services will be completed. It is important to check with your state for telehealth and scope of practice policies.

On March 20, 2020, the Academy submitted letters to House and Senate leadership requesting that a provision be included in the third COVID-19 legislative package to allow audiologists to provide services to Medicare beneficiaries via telehealth.

Below is a resource list with information on the provision of telehealth services. The Academy will post additional information as it comes available.

• March 23, 2020: CMS Approves Medicaid Section 1135 Waivers for 11 Additional States in Response to COVID-19
• Covered Telehealth Services Under Medicare
• CMS FAQs on Provision of Telehealth Services
• Office of Civil Rights FAQs on HIPAA Enforcement Discretion