Medicare and Coronavirus: What You Need to Know
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: February 21, 2023
With the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), being informed about your Medicare coverage is more important than ever.
Medicare recently expanded its coverage of telehealth services. Telehealth enables beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services from doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility. It also helps frontline clinicians stay safe themselves while treating people.
If your doctor orders a COVID-19 test for you, Medicare covers all of the costs. You should not have any co-pay, no matter what Medicare plan you’re enrolled in. There’s no vaccine for COVID-19 at this time, but when one becomes available, Medicare will cover it.
Medicare also covers all medically necessary hospitalizations. This includes extra days in the hospital for in-patients who were on the verge of being discharged, but were diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to stay longer under quarantine.
Doctors, nurse practitioners, clinical psychologists, and licensed clinical social workers can deliver telehealth services. Medicare beneficiaries can receive telehealth services in their home, as well as in any healthcare facility, a physician’s office, hospital, nursing home, or rural health clinic.
Telehealth services can include routine office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive health screenings for cancer and other illnesses.
By helping healthcare institutions across the nation offer medical services remotely, telehealth helps free up hospital emergency departments and doctors’ offices to deal with the most urgent COVID-19 cases.
During this emergency, Medicare will pay for telehealth services at the same rates as in-person services, giving doctors and other medical professionals the opportunity to reserve their offices to treat those who truly require in-person care.
We know many Medicare beneficiaries are concerned about the spread of coronavirus and the threat it poses to their well-being. That’s why we’ve taken these rapid steps to ensure that the Medicare program continues to protect our beneficiaries while maintaining trusted access to care in these uncertain times.
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Patrick G.
At this late date of inaction Seema Velma must believe only PT’s, employed by physicians, are qualified to perform TeleTherapy.
Tony S.
Administrator Verma
Can you please just respond with some answer regarding expanding telehealth services to physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists under Medicare Part B? Many major insurance carriers and state Medicaid programs have already done this. Is this something you are considering?
Rick G.
Administrator Verma
Can you please just respond with some answer regarding expanding telehealth services to physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists under Medicare Part B? Many major insurance carriers and state Medicaid programs have already done this. Is this something you are considering?
Holly v.
Please allow Medicare Part B to offer telehealth for rehab services
Craig J.
It makes sense to allow PT providers to provide services via telehealth. It keeps patients at home where they should be. PT’s are educated at the doctorate level and make clinical judgement on appropriate care everyday in the clinic. Listen to your beneficiaries Director, they want the service!!
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Duane A.
I have completed form CMS-L564 for validating health insurance coverage through my wife’s employ. Where, what address or electronic web link can I upload this doc. to securely. Thanks have a safe, healthy weekend.
Vonda V.
Hi Duane, thank you for using our blog. To find the address of your local Social Security office, please visit our Social Security Office Locator. We hope this helps.
Jim
Is a person on Medicare allowed to use telemedicine with their out of state doctor regardless of the state the patient is located ?
Vonda V.
Hi Jim. Thank you for using our blog. The Medicare web page on Telehealth has additional details which you may find helpful. Thank you.
Maria G.
I would like to find information regarding if there were waivers regarding telehealth and advance care planning. The requirement of 2 witness and notary during this time is now not reasonable. Hospitals do not allow visitors, etc. POLST/MOLST are very different across state lines and communities have the same issue what will be honored or not. During this crisis it is a huge surprise that we need to get this done so when we have the determination of Proxy to do medical decisions and address what they value and matters most to them in there care and what the options are now is a priority. Professionals need to determine through telehealth: Proxy, decisions regarding the ICU, ventilators and CPR. if CMS can relax the regulations due to this crisis, this would be a huge support to get this done so we can have the conversation sooner and not in a COVID crisis at the hospital. I am begging for help and guidance and would really appreciate consideration to address this.
Thank you so much again to all for all your commitment, passion and compassion for us to have these conversations earlier and more efficient, and guided through evidence base and love.
Vonda V.
Hi Maria. Thank you for using our blog. Please contact Medicare directly with your questions by visiting http://www.medicare.gov or calling them toll free at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227) TTY number: 1-877-486-2048. Hopefully this will help.
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Barbara S.
Medicare has significant out-of-pocket expenses. Its advantage plans are tax-subsidized to profit-making insurance companies, which have limited choices of: doctor; area of use; hospitals; and their staff that we can use within our plan. Let’s think toward expanding and improving Medicare to be like the active-duty military, our veterans, and other countries – available to all.
Lynn S.
Thank you for all of your hard work and leadership during this difficult time!
Unfortunately individuals with low back pain, or other musculoskeletal or movement problems can only get medication over telehealth visits from their providers!
More prescriptions for pain meds at a time like this will inevitably have a negative future outcome.
Please consider allowing Physical Therapists to deliver medically necessary telehealth care. Therapists deliver a tremendous amount of their most effective care through patient instruction on movement and education on exercise! We can’t use our hands but we can use the power of teaching patients self care!
Thank you
Lynn Steffes PT, DPT
Wisconsin