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Trump Admin Lifts Limits on Telehealth Services for 62 Million Medicare Recipients
The Epoch Times ^ | MMarch 17, 2020 Updated: March 17, 2020 | Ivan Pentchoukov

Posted on 03/17/2020 12:12:42 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 17 lifted all restrictions on telehealth services for Americans covered by Medicare to address the threat of the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic.

President Donald Trump announced the lifting of the limits during a press conference at the White House, calling it a “historic breakthrough.”

“This has not been done before either,” the president said.

Previously Medicare only covered telehealth services for those living in rural areas and brief visits for established patients. With the restrictions lifted, all 62 million Medicare beneficiaries can call a doctor’s office and request to have their appointments conducted remotely via software like Skype and WhatsApp.

Medicare recipients are 65 years or older, making the group among the most vulnerable to the virus.

“This is a part of our larger effort around mitigation. As we are encouraging Americans to stay home whenever possible, we don’t want out Medicare policies getting in the way,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma.

As a result, a person from the vulnerable population who needs a routine check up will not have to venture outside of his or her home and can avoid unnecessary exposure to the virus. Meanwhile, elderly Medicare recipients who are experiencing mild flu-like symptoms can avoid having to sit in waiting rooms with other vulnerable patients and see a doctor from the comfort of their homes.

Verma said that the agency made the change in accord with a recent appropriations bill and the emergency declaration issued by Trump.

“This action is part of our broader effort to make sure that government requirements, rules, and regulations don’t get in the way of patient care during an emergency,” Verma said.

(Excerpt) Read more at theepochtimes.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coronavirus; debt; deficit; dsj02; medicare; telehealth
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1 posted on 03/17/2020 12:12:42 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Smart, once again Trump breaking new ground in wonderful ways...”Man of the Year”.


2 posted on 03/17/2020 12:14:12 PM PDT by 1Old Pro
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

This is huge. I hope it stays after the pandemic is done.


3 posted on 03/17/2020 12:16:14 PM PDT by McGavin999 (Queen Fancy Nancy Of North Poopistan)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

This was overdue. Even before the current situation we should have allowed the expansion of telehealth services.


4 posted on 03/17/2020 12:17:53 PM PDT by BillyBonebrake
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To: 1Old Pro

Yup. Learned something new from his presser. Before a doctor could not speak with you over his personal cell phone without violating HIPAA.


5 posted on 03/17/2020 12:18:53 PM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Outstanding move! A tremendous amount of medicine can be done this way. I have been in situations where my PCP performs tests & blood work on behalf of specialists that I’ve only met via teleconference. It works. Saves time, money and provides access to the right doctors.


6 posted on 03/17/2020 12:19:15 PM PDT by ConservativeInPA
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Now this is GOOOOOD.


7 posted on 03/17/2020 12:21:12 PM PDT by crz
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To: Buckeye McFrog; NautiNurse
Learned something new from his presser. Before a doctor could not speak with you over his personal cell phone without violating HIPAA.

I know... very interesting.

President Trump and VP Pence have been *fabulous* during these daily pressers! Can you imagine Obama, Hillary, Senile Joe or Bolshevik Bernie running these pressers - and leading this impressive team of doctors and other professionals - thru this coronavirus outbreak?

8 posted on 03/17/2020 12:21:46 PM PDT by nutmeg (Mega prayers for Rush Limbaugh)
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To: McGavin999

Likewise for so many other suspended regulations. If regulations are problematic in a crisis, and don’t demonstrably cause other problems, don’t restore them.


9 posted on 03/17/2020 12:23:06 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (* - Interesting how those so interested in workERS are so disinterested in workING.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Be careful what you wish for. I foresee a future where all our telehealth services are going to be conducted by doctors named “Dr. Smith” and “Dr. Schneider” and “Dr. Goldberg” ... all of whom have conspicuously odd heavy Indian accents. :-P


10 posted on 03/17/2020 12:23:12 PM PDT by Alberta's Child ("Oh, but it's hard to live by the rules; I never could and still never do.")
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[[As a result, a person from the vulnerable population who needs a routine check up will not have to venture outside of his or her home]]

How can this be possible when they check things like reflexes, lymph glands, tongue, eyes, etc?

I can see it with follow up visits where the docs just discuss test results with the patients, but even then the docs usually need to see the person to be able to gauge certain things like swollen lymph glands, reflexes etc-

not knowing this at all, just curious how it will work?


11 posted on 03/17/2020 12:24:37 PM PDT by Bob434
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To: nutmeg

Every person on Trump’s CV response team has been impressive. Without exception. Even Dr. Fauci!


12 posted on 03/17/2020 12:25:41 PM PDT by entropy12 (You are either for free enterprise or want gov't to interfere with corporate issues.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

People will realize when it’s over what a Godsend it was to have a man in office who thinks “Outside the Box” as Trump does.


13 posted on 03/17/2020 12:26:26 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: 1Old Pro

Yep.

It will be expensive and of course the virus is a shame for anyone affected, but let’s hope Trump gets four more years to really remake the government and get our economy secured in a much more resilient, self-reliant way in the meantime. The MAGA agenda is more relevant than ever.


14 posted on 03/17/2020 12:26:57 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: entropy12

And whereas before, where I was uncommitted about Pence. I will walk through broken glass in 2024 to vote for him.


15 posted on 03/17/2020 12:27:10 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: Alberta's Child

“I foresee a future where all our telehealth services are going to be conducted by doctors named “Dr. Smith” and “Dr. Schneider” and “Dr. Goldberg” ... all of whom have conspicuously odd heavy Indian accents. :-P”

That is already often the case with in-person healthcare (well, not the fake names, but the heavy accents).


16 posted on 03/17/2020 12:27:45 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
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To: nutmeg

Saw almost all of Trump’s Presser today.

It was outstanding.. and at least an hour and a half long.

Not many are going to want Biden and his gang of clowns to take Trump’s place.


17 posted on 03/17/2020 12:28:36 PM PDT by Conserv
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To: McGavin999

What about checking BP, listening to the heartbeat for irregularities, etc? Is there a way to do that remotely as yet?


18 posted on 03/17/2020 12:31:49 PM PDT by billyboy15
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To: entropy12

“Every person on Trump’s CV response team has been impressive. Without exception. Even Dr. Fauci!”

I agree, in spite of some FR “MDs” saying that Fauci is a scrawny, deep-state geek and a fraud.


19 posted on 03/17/2020 12:32:09 PM PDT by Magic Fingers (Political correctness mutates in order to remain virulent.)
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To: billyboy15

They had that decades ago. My Dad (RIP) used to connect his pacemaker to the phone line and send in data. He was a career telephone company guy, so that really made him smile.


20 posted on 03/17/2020 12:34:00 PM PDT by nascarnation
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