August 28, 2019
AHCCCS Telehealth Policy Open for Public Comment
In order to expand access to care in rural and metro areas of Arizona, AHCCCS is requesting public comments on proposed changes to the covered telehealth services in AHCCCS Medical Policy 320-I.
Proposed changes to the telehealth policy will expand currently covered services, including:
- Broadening the place-of-service allowed for distant (the provider’s location) and originating (the member’s location) sites, including serving members in their homes (where broadband access is available).
- Expanding coverage of synchronous (real-time) through the elimination of a list of restricted approved disciplines; this allows current and evolving standard of care to dictate best use of telehealth.
- Expanding allowable uses for asynchronous (store and forward) and remote patient monitoring.
- Eliminating geographic restrictions.
- Allowing MCOs to retain the ability to manage their networks and leverage telehealth strategies as they determine appropriate.
- Requiring the use of modifiers to indicate use of synchronous vs. asynchronous technologies in order to track access to health care delivery and increase transparency in how telehealth is utilized.
- Requiring the use of place of service (POS) for the originating site.
Additionally, AHCCCS will retire the current Telehealth Training Manual once the policy changes go into effect. Public comments are being accepted through September 28 at the AHCCCS ACOM and AMPM Policy website.
Policy changes will be implemented on or about Oct. 1, 2019, reflective of the public comments received.
