RUPRI Health Panel

We encourage CMS to consider permanent status at the end of that time, after assessing impacts on patients and access to services (FR page 52292). [...] We recommend that that CHI services be allowed to occur in-person, audio- video, or two-way audio to accommodate the distance and travel barriers often faced by rural Medicare beneficiaries and the community-based organizations which provide services and support (FR page 42329). [...] CMS requests comments (FR page 52331) on whether to require billing practitioners (for SDOH risk assessment) to have the ability to deliver services or partnerships with community-based organizations to address the needs. [...] Advancing Access to Behavioral Health Services We endorse adding Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) to the lists of practitioners eligible to order diagnostic tests and to furnish Medicare telehealth services (FR page 52363). [...] Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FR pages 52395 – 52410) Given rural locations of RHCs and FQHC sites, we recommend CMS extend the definition of direct supervision to permit virtual presence beyond December 31, 2024 (FR page 52397).