Medicare to Pay for Telemedicine for Nursing Home Patients

Medicare will now pay for nursing home patients to be treated by telemedicine, reducing the number of expensive trips to the hospital. The new federal rule allows nursing homes to charge a $20 facility fee for each patient using telemedicine. The new Medicare reimbursement rule takes effect in January. The change also expands telemedicine coverage to community mental health centers and renal dialysis facilities. More information is available here.