Health Systems Press CMS to Let Doctors Use Telehealth at Home

Over 110 organizations, including major health systems, are urging the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to make permanent a Medicare waiver allowing providers to bill for telehealth services from their homes. Set to expire at year-end, the waiver facilitates flexible telehealth programs, promoting on-demand coverage, reducing operational costs, and addressing workforce shortages. The letter to CMS emphasizes the waiver’s role in improving patient access, reducing healthcare costs, and alleviating practitioner stress. Advocates request the waiver’s permanent extension and propose alternative methods for determining reimbursable telehealth sites without disclosing doctors’ home addresses. Signatories include Mayo Clinic, UPMC, and Yale School of Medicine.