CMS Finalizes Telehealth, ESRD, Star Ratings, Reinsurance Policies for 2021

Jun 04
Jun 04, 2020

Finalizing a series of policies just before the 2021 bid deadline, CMS on May 22 said it will address remaining proposals from its February proposed rule at a later date (RMA 2/20/20, p. 1).

CMS finalized a proposal to count telehealth providers in certain specialty areas (e.g., dermatology, psychiatry, cardiology, ophthalmology) toward meeting CMS network adequacy standards. The agency also lowered the required percentage of rural beneficiaries who must reside within the maximum time and distance standards from 90% to 85%.
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Lauren Flynn Kelly

Lauren has been covering health business issues since the early 2000s and specializes in in-depth reporting on Medicare Advantage, managed Medicaid and Medicare Part D. She also possesses a deep understanding of the complex world of pharmacy benefit management, having written AIS Health’s Radar on Drug Benefits from 2004 to 2005 and again from 2011 to 2016. In addition to her role as managing editor of Radar on Medicare Advantage, she oversees AIS Health’s publications and manages the health editorial staff. She graduated from Vassar College with a B.A. in English.