How is your organization preparing for the impending telehealth changes?
Healthcare providers should prepare for the telehealth changes that will be in effect with the end of the PHE on May 11, 2023. Having supported revenue cycle teams through changing payer guidelines as well as auditing thousands of medical records since the PHE began, we know first-hand that telehealth has been a challenge. This method of care delivery took an unprecedented trajectory across health systems and providers, and for some, the mentality was “jump in and hold on” out of necessity. Lacking resources to keep up with the rapid-fire changes, many were just doing the best they could. Then that became their habit and process, without looking back or recalculating their telehealth navigation.
Now we’re facing yet another change related to telehealth just around the corner, and while we’re all grateful to be on this side of the PHE, it’s difficult to consider preparing for it. Not only have providers had to navigate evaluation and management (E/M) guideline changes in 2021 and 2023, those working across the healthcare spectrum have been suffering from burnout, fatigue, and staffing shortages (due to layoffs or unfilled positions), not to mention revenue shortfalls and tight budgets. It’s hard to dedicate the time and resources needed just to keep up with the changes, let alone construct a strategy to meet them head-on.
Consider the following questions in evaluating whether your house is in order and ready to face the uncertainty of the future of telehealth.
- Do you communicate your policy around telehealth services with your patients? Do they know when an in-person visit is required versus expecting all services to be available as telehealth?
- Have you examined your telehealth workflow to identify inefficiencies that may impact your ability to bill and receive payment in a compliant manner?
- What’s been the return on your telehealth investment? Have you analyzed the reimbursement rates or the frequency of denied telehealth claims?
- Have you audited the documentation to ensure the reimbursement received was appropriate based on services the medical record supports?
- Do you have a comprehensive process for documenting the patient’s consent, the technology utilized (real-time audio/video or telephone/audio only), and the CPT® code(s) billed for your telehealth encounters? Did you develop telehealth templates in your EHR that need revisions?
You may not know the answers to these questions. Knowing the answers is vital if you plan to continue offering telehealth services in your organization. The Rybar Group has the expertise and the resources to help. Reach out today and let us be your partner in refining your telehealth process while also preparing your organization for the future.
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Focusing exclusively in the healthcare arena, The Rybar Group brings in-depth industry knowledge to help clients create solutions designed to identify opportunities for revenue generation, isolate root causes for underperformance, accelerate cash in the door and support long-term margin improvement. The Rybar Group does not dabble in reimbursement and revenue cycle solutions; we specialize in it.
