Since 2008, Indiana Medicaid has reimbursed for services provided via telemedicine, but a single line in the law excluded FQHCs and RHCs from providing any services remotely.  With the passage of SB 554 this month, these providers, along with Home Health Agencies (relative newcomers and future stars of the telehealth world), can now extend their reach and increase their efficiency through the use of telemedicine.

Some experts are predicting tremendous changes in the telehealth landscape in 2013.  Similar predictions have been made for years; could this be the year they are correct?  Though there are, indeed, many significant changes afoot, I believe the underlying stability (or calcification?) of the health care system will keep the overall magnitude of changes modest.

Several CPT codes that are commonly used in telemental health service programs have changed as of January 1, 2013.  Also new this year, Medicare has added several important screening tools and brief behavioral intervention services to its list of covered telehealth services.