MSSNY Applauds Legislation to Expand Medicaid and CHIP Coverage for Telehealth to Include “Audio-Only” Services
MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100
For Immediate Release
May 28, 2020
MSSNY Applauds Legislation to Expand Medicaid and CHIP Coverage for Telehealth to Include “Audio-Only” Services
Statement Attributable to:
Bonnie Litvack, M.D.
President, Medical Society of the State of New York
“We applaud Senator Metzger and Assemblymember Rosenthal for advancing their legislation (A.10404-A/S.8416) to expand Medicaid and CHIP coverage for telehealth to include “audio-only” services. During this pandemic, telemedicine availability has been an absolutely essential modality for our patients to continue to receive needed medical services from their physicians.
“The Cuomo Administration, through the New York State Department of Health (DOH) and Department of Financial Services (DFS), took critically important steps in mid-March to remove barriers to telehealth coverage for commercial and state-sponsored insurance programs, including ensuring that telephone conversations between patients and their physicians were covered. This is particularly important for many of our patients who do not possess adequate video-enabled technology to conduct audio-visual telehealth visits with their physicians. Recognizing this concern, CMS also took the step of expanding audio-only telehealth coverage for our senior patients covered by Medicare.
“As we enter a new phase in confronting the pandemic, and preventing against a second “surge”, MSSNY has been urging that this expanded coverage for telehealth be continued across the health insurance coverage spectrum. This legislation would ensure that this expanded coverage continues for the Medicaid and CHIP programs, a standard which we would also urge DFS to continue to require of state-regulated commercial health insurance plans.”
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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.
MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org
