URGENT: Telehealth Flexibilities for Home Health Face-to-Face Encounter

In the January 8, 2025 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) Home Health, Hospice, & DME Open Door Forum (ODF), CMS erred in its response to a question about the use of telehealth for the home health face-to-face encounter.  Specifically, CMS asserted that telehealth could not be used for the home health face-to-face encounter and that it must be completed in person. This is not correct.

As previously reported, the waiver of the geographic and originating site restrictions allowing for the home health face-to-face encounter to be performed via telehealth in the patient’s home and in any geographic location was extended until March 31, 2025 as part of the American Relief Act 2025. While the fight continues to extend or make permanent this flexibility, and that for hospice, telehealth may be used for the face-to-face encounter at this time. The Alliance has requested CMS make a correction.