CMS to Allow Providers to Practice at Top of License, Across States

By Michael Brady

Modern Healthcare

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will allow providers to practice across state lines and at the top of their license.

The new flexibilities allow doctors to treat patients at rural hospitals via telehealth, even if they’re out-of-state. Nurse practitioners will also be allowed to perform select medical exams for Medicare patients in skilled nursing facilities, even if they’re not COVID-19 related.

Occupational therapists that work for home health agencies will also be able to do initial assessments for homebound patients, and hospice nurses will no longer have to participate in hospice aide in-service activities.

The Trump administration hopes these moves will free up additional provider capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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