Final notice: Telemedicine/Telehealth FAQ documents to sunset effective 10/1/2023

Washington State Health Care Authority sent this bulletin at 09/29/2023 08:41 AM PDT

September 29, 2023

Apple Health (Medicaid) Provider Alert

Attention providers:

Note: The changes detailed in this provider alert were sent out to providers on June 29, 2023. This is the FINAL notice concerning these same changes.

What changed?

The Health Care Authority (HCA) created the frequently asked questions (FAQ) documents listed in this Provider Alert to help highlight HCA’s telemedicine policy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that the public health emergency (PHE) has ended, these documents are no longer necessary. HCA will sunset these documents effective October 1, 2023.

To assist in this transition, updated versions of these documents, effective July 1, 2023, have been loaded on HCA’s Provider billing guides and fee schedules, under Telehealth, with important information concerning which policies will end and which will be found in program-specific billing guides.

Which documents have been updated?

Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for applied behavior analysis (ABA) providers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Apple Health (Medicaid) behavioral health policy and billing during the COVID-19 pandemic (FAQ). Note: This document was replaced with a completely new version titled Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for behavioral health providers billing for services provided via telemedicine. Effective July 1, 2023, see this new FAQ for guidance related to the Service Encounter Reporting Instructions (SERI) Guide and the Mental Health Services Billing Guide.
Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for diabetes education providers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for family planning only (FPO) providers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for home health providers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for long-term care facilities and skilled nursing facilities during the COVID-19 pandemic
Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for physical, occupational, and speech therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic

From July 1, 2023, to September 30, 2023

These updated FAQ documents will remain on HCA’s Provider billing guides and fee schedules webpage, under Telehealth.

Effective October 1, 2023

HCA will sunset the FAQ documents, except for the Apple Health (Medicaid) FAQ for behavioral health providers billing for services provided via telemedicine. This FAQ will remain on HCA’s Provider billing guides and fee schedules webpage, under Telehealth, to provide telemedicine guidance related to the Service Encounter Reporting Instructions (SERI) Guide and the Mental Health Services Billing Guide.
Program-specific telemedicine/telehealth information will be in specific HCA billing guides located on HCA’s Provider billing guides and fee schedules
The main agency telemedicine policy will be in HCA’s Telemedicine policy billing guide located on HCA’s Provider billing guides and fee schedules webpage, under Telehealth.
The main agency COVID-19 clinical policy will be in HCA’s Clinical policy for COVID-19 billing guide located on HCA’s Provider billing guides and fee schedules webpage, under Telehealth.

Email HCA’s Apple Health clinical policy team for any questions related to HCA’s telemedicine policy.

About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) is committed to whole-person care, integrating physical health and behavioral health services for better results and healthier residents.

HCA purchases health care for more than 2.5 million Washington residents through Apple Health (Medicaid), the Public Employees Benefits Board (PEBB) Program, the School Employees Benefits Board (SEBB) Program, and the COFA Islander Health Care Program. As the largest health care purchaser in the state, we lead the effort to transform health care, helping ensure Washington residents have access to better health and better care at a lower cost.

Please do not reply directly to this message. For more information, visit the HCA website, where you'll also find contact information.

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Nondiscrimination

The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) complies with all applicable federal and Washington state civil rights laws and is committed to providing equal access to our services. Visit HCA’s website to view complete nondiscrimination statements.

Final notice: Telemedicine/Telehealth FAQ documents to sunset effective 10/1/2023

Apple Health (Medicaid) Provider Alert

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About the Health Care Authority (HCA)

Disclosure notice

Nondiscrimination