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Issue Briefs

Final Parity Rule Fulfills Major NABH Requests

Final Parity Rule Fulfills Major NABH Requests

NABH is pleased the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL) and Treasury Departments addressed our major concerns in the final parity rule the three federal agencies released Sept. 9.

The long-awaited regulation implements more stringent compliance protocols and related definitions (noted below) with the goal to implement and enforce the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act more fully and fairly almost 16 years after it was enacted into law in October 2008.

NABH and our partners will continue to examine the dense, legalistic rule to assess the real-world effects of the new changes and determine our next advocacy steps related to parity. The rule affects group health plans and group or individual health insurance coverage that cover both behavioral and physical health services. Two main provisions in the rule include:

  • Requiring health plans to prepare comparative analyses that assess parity compliance of their non-quantitative treatment limitation (NQTL), including specifying the mandatory components of these analyses and the process for publicly sharing these reports; and
  • Amending the sunset provision to prevent opting out of compliance with MHPAEA, as required by law, after Dec. 29, 2022, with a June 27, 2023 deadline for certain plans that are subject to collective bargaining.

Key NQTL Provisions

NQTLs include prior authorization requirements and other medical management techniques, standards related to network composition, and methodologies to determine out-of-network reimbursement rates. The rule addresses these NQTL issues by:

  • Reinforcing that health plans and issuers cannot use NQTLs that are more restrictive than those predominantly applied to physical health benefits in the same classification.
  • Disallowing implementation of new NQTLs that do not meet parity standards.
  • Specifying how insurers are to measure and report on their network composition, out-of-network reimbursement rates, and medical management and prior authorization NQTLs.
  • Concerning the design of NQTLs, prohibiting discriminatory information, evidence, sources, or standards that systematically disfavor access to behavioral healthcare benefits as compared with physical health benefits.

Fraud, Waste and Abuse

A particularly important win for NABH is the rule’s addition of “fraud, waste, and abuse” standards as a distinct NQTL that is subject to a parity test. Unfortunately, today some health plans exploit providers by using unwarranted fraud, waste, and abuse audits of providers who have no history or evidence of fraud or abuse. For this reason, we strongly urged regulators to implement this new NQTL to provide structure and transparency in these audits.

Generally Accepted Standards of Care (GASC)

Another gain is the rule’s requirement that health plans explain any medical necessity standards that diverge from GASC. While the parity law does not require that medical necessity guidelines align with GASC, this new requirement will bring meaningful transparency and accountability to the process of creating such guidelines.

“Substantially All” Benefits Determination

When determining the limits of a mental health or substance use disorder benefit, the parity test to compare the coverage with relevant physical health benefits should be applied to substantially all medical/surgical benefits in that classification.The rule included this approach, rather than the proposed mathematical test for “substantially all” to implement a less cumbersome option.

“Meaningful Benefits” Definition

To meet the mandatory “meaningful benefits” test, mental health and substance use disorder benefits will be compared with all benefits provided for physical health coverage in the same classification. For this provision, HHS, DOL, and Treasury accommodated our request for this definition to mitigate future coverage disagreements among stakeholders, including plans, providers, auditors, and the courts.

For more details, please see the federal agencies’ joint fact sheet and news release.  And please look for additional information in CEO Update this Friday, Sept. 13.

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CMS’ Proposed 2025 PFS Rule Would Cut Overall Payments by 2.8%

CMS’ Proposed 2025 PFS Rule Would Cut Overall Payments by 2.8%

In its proposed rule for the calendar year (CY) 2025 physician fee schedule, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recommends reducing the conversion factor by 2.8% to $32.36 in CY 2025, compared with $33.29 in CY 2024. This change reflects the expired 2.93% statutory payment increase for CY 2024; a 0.00% conversion factor update under the Medicare Access and Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act; and a .05% budget-neutrality adjustment.

Proposed New Behavioral Healthcare Services

Released July 10, the lengthy rule includes these proposals to improve payment for and access to behavioral healthcare services:

  • For people determined to have elevated suicide or overdose risk, a new payment for safety planning interventions and post-discharge follow-up contacts;
  • New digital tools payment for:
    • Post-discharge telephonic follow-up;
    • Software devices that treat a mental health condition in conjunction with ongoing treatment; and
  • Extending evaluation and management services payment to allow clinical psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors to conduct interprofessional consultations among themselves, as well with psychiatrists and other physicians.

Proposed Payment Updates by Specialty

Table 128 in the proposed rule lists these and other proposed updates by specialty:

  • +3.0% for clinical psychologists;
  • +1.0% for psychiatrists;
  • +4.0% for clinical social workers;
  • +1.0% for family practice physicians;
  • +1.0% for internal medicine physicians; and
  • No change for nurse practitioners.

Opioid Treatment Programs (OTPs)

Telehealth Extended for Methadone Treatment
Regarding methadone treatments, CMS proposes extending current telehealth flexibilities permanently for periodic assessments and initiation of treatment. For beneficiaries lacking permanent access to two-way audio-video communications technology, CMS would allow periodic assessments to be furnished via audio-only communications when applicable requirements are met. To support this proposal, CMS cites evidence that audio-only visits produce many of the same benefits as video-based visits. The rule also notes that this provision would advance the agency’s health equity goals.

For initiation of treatment with methadone for any new patient, audio-visual telehealth may be used if an OTP can conduct an adequate evaluation of the patient. Audio-only telehealth is not permitted. Such telehealth evaluations would use OTP intake add-on code (HCPCS code G2076) and must comply with the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and other requirements. These OTP provisions also are intended to align with SAMHSA’s goals for reducing barriers to access.

Payment for Patient Intakes
The rule proposes payment updates for intake activities (HCPCS code G2076) by OTPs, which align with recent SAMHSA reforms to advance patient-centered and evidence-based paradigms of care for Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatments such as harm-reduction interventions and recovery support services. Specifically, the rule would implement payment for social determinants of health risk assessments (HCPCS code G0136) to identify unmet health-related social needs or the need for OUD-related harm-reduction interventions and recovery support services. In addition, CMS seeks feedback on how OTPs currently coordinate care and make referrals to community-based organizations that address unmet Health Related Social Needs (HRSNs), provide harm-reduction services, and/or offer recovery support services.

Opioid Agonist and Antagonist Medications
CMS proposes to establish payment for new opioid agonist and antagonist medications that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved recently. Specifically, the rule would create a new add-on code to the bundled payment to reflect take-home supplies for nalmefene hydrochloride (nalmefene) nasal spray (Opvee®). The agency also proposes paying for a new extended-release injectable buprenorphine product (Brixadi®), indicated to treat moderate to severe OUD using a new weekly bundled payment code to reflect the weekly formulation of Brixadi®. In addition, the rule would update payment for the existing bundled payment for monthly injectable buprenorphine (HCPCS G2069) in order to reflect payment for the monthly formulation of Brixadi®. CMS’ goals for these changes are to help prevent additional opioid overdose deaths, reduce illicit opioid use, and retain more individuals with an OUD in treatment.

Billing Clarification
The rule also clarifies that for billing, an OUD diagnosis code is required on claims submitted under the Medicare OTP benefit, which helps ensure that payments for Part B OTP services are for the treatment of OUD.

Additional Telehealth Proposals

Permanent Expansion of Audio-only Telehealth
CMS proposes to permanently expand the allowable forms of telehealth “interactive telecommunications systems” to include audio-only communication technology if the patient is not capable of, or does not consent to, the use of video technology.

Temporary Telehealth Expansions
In addition, CMS is proposing temporary changes for the use of audio-visual (not audio-only) telehealth for the purpose of physician/practitioner supervision. Specifically, the rule would expand through CY 2025 the allowance for supervising practitioners to be “immediately available” through audio-visual telehealth. In addition, for CY 2025 only, teaching physicians could continue to supervise audio-visual telehealth services furnished by residents in all teaching settings, such as through a 3-way telehealth visit. Also for CY 2025, the agency will continue to permit physicians to use their currently enrolled practice location instead of their home address when providing telehealth services from home.

The rule also extends through CY 2025 the pandemic-originating coverage of telehealth services provided by federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. This extension also includes the waiver allowing for reporting of enrolled practice addresses, rather than home addresses, when providers perform services from their home, and the waiver for virtual supervision for residents in all teaching settings when the services are provided virtually.

NABH is displeased that beginning Jan. 1, 2025 – in compliance with federal law – the rule repeals crucial telehealth flexibilities that would subject most digital care to pre-pandemic regulations.

Permanent Audio-visual Telehealth for Low-Risk Services
For services furnished after December 2025, CMS proposes that physician/practitioner oversight via audio-visual telehealth shall be limited to services that are “low risk by their nature, do not often demand in-person supervision, and are typically furnished entirely by the supervised personnel.” CMS’ stated goal for approving remote supervision for these particular low-risk services is that they already are known to balance patient safety concerns with the need to expand access and optimize workforce capacity:

  • Services with the underlying HCPCS code that has been assigned a PC/TC indicator of ‘5’; and
  • Services described by CPT code 99211 (Office or other outpatient visit for the evaluation and management of an established patient that may not require the presence of a physician or other qualified health care professional).

In addition to CMS’ proposed telehealth expansions, Congress is also considering extending telehealth flexibilities beyond this year, most likely through a two-year extension. NABH strongly endorses these flexibilities.

Quality

For reporting in 2025, CMS proposes six new, optional metrics for the quality payment program.

Please see the agency’s news release to read a high-level summary of the rule. CMS will accept comments on the proposed rule through Sept. 9.

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Changes to Medicare Coverage for Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Services

This NABH Issue Brief highlights changes to coverage for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) included in its 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other final rules.

The PFS rule also contains many changes related to telehealth for substance use disorder (SUD) services. For a review of these modifications, please see NABH Issue Brief CMS Expands Medicare Telehealth Coverage for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services.

SECTION I: PFS and Other Rules

  1. CMS adopted the proposal to expand the PFS bundled payments to include all SUDs, not just OUD treatment services.
    • To avoid duplicate billing for treating individuals who require treatment for more than one substance, HCPCS codes G2086-G2088 should not be billed more than once per month.

2. The agency adopted a new code to reimburse for medication assisted treatment (MAT) and additional services in the emergency department. The drug is paid for separately. There are no minimum number of minutes required. The following code was established for this purpose:

    • HCPCS code G2213: Initiation of medication to treat OUD in the emergency department setting, including assessment, referral to ongoing care, and arranging access to supportive services. (List separately in addition to code for primary procedure).

3. The Initial Preventive Physical Examination (IPPE) and Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) was modified to include a) screening for potential SUDs and b) review of any current opioid prescriptions. CMS adjusted the valuation of these services to reflect the changes in value for office/outpatient E/M visits to which they are cross-walked.

4. CMS finalized the proposal to make the Query of PDMP measure under the Electronic Prescribing objective for MIPS eligible clinicians an optional measure eligible for 10 bonus points in CY 2021, an increase of five points from last year.

SECTION II: Coverage for OUD Treatment Services in OTPs

Nasal Naloxone

  1. CMS revised the definition of OUD treatment services to include short-acting opioid antagonist medications, such as naloxone, including nasal and injectable forms.
    • CMS finalized the proposed drug costs of ASP+0 for nasal naloxone. CMS noted NABH’s concern related to pricing methodology for nasal naloxone and indicated it will monitor utilization of claims data to determine whether payment policies are suppressing naloxone access and need changes in future rulemaking.
    • Injectable naloxone is based on contractor pricing. CMS will monitor the data to determine typical dosages and national pricing in future rulemaking.

2. The agency revised its definition of OUD treatment services to include overdose education. The reimbursement rate for overdose education is $2.53. Payments are attached to the provision of naloxone (see Naloxone add-on codes below).

    • CMS will consider the need for independent coding for overdose education in future rulemaking.

3. Naloxone add-on codes consist of both a drug component and a non-drug component that would account for the provision of overdose education each time the OTP furnishes naloxone.

    • HCPCS G2215: Take-home supply of nasal naloxone (provision of the services by a Medicare-enrolled Opioid Treatment Program); list separately in addition to code for primary procedure.
Drug Cost Non-Drug Cost Total
89.63 2.53 92.16
    • HCPCS G2216: Take-home supply of injectable naloxone (provision of the services by a Medicare-enrolled Opioid Treatment Program); list separately in addition to code for primary procedure.
Drug Cost Non-Drug Cost Total
Contracted Price 2.53 Contracted Price

 

4. CMS noted that the brand and authorized generic formulation of the auto-injector naloxone have been discontinued. Therefore, an add-on code for auto-injector naloxone was not finalized.

5. The proposed frequency limit on Medicare payments to OTPs for naloxone was finalized at one add-on code (HCPCS code G2215 or G2216) every 30 days.

6. However, CMS noted NABH’s clinical concern about limiting naloxone and allowed for exceptions to the frequency limitation when it is a medically reasonable and necessary part of the treatment for OUD (e.g., when the beneficiary overdoses and uses the initial supply). Exceptions must be documented in the medical record.

7. CMS finalized its proposal to recoup duplicative payments of naloxone from the OTPs, based on the rationale that as coordinators of patient care, OTPs are best positioned to know whether naloxone is part of the OTP treatment plan or is supplied by another provider or supplier.

8. CMS finalized enrollment through use of Form CMS-855A (Medicare Enrollment Application for Institutional Providers) OR CMS-855B (Medicare Enrollment Application: Clinics/Group Practices and Certain Other Suppliers).

    • OTPs currently enrolled via CMS-855B may switch to enrollment via CMS-855A without an additional site visit and, if applicable, fingerprinting. This is also true if an OTP is currently enrolled under CMS 855-A and switches to CMS-855B.
    • The effective billing date that was established for the OTP under the original enrollment continues to apply.
    • Application fees still apply.

9. As proposed, CMS finalized that periodic assessments (add-on) via audio-visual technology require a face-to-face interaction.

      • Therefore, periodic assessments are permitted to continue after the public health emergency ends but are not permitted to be performed via audio-only
      • Audio-only is permitted to be included as part of the bundled rate but not as an add-on code.
      • Periodic assessments are permitted when medically necessary and documented in the medical record.

10. CMS confirmed the permitted use of “standard billing cycles” in which episodes of care for all patients begin on the same day of the week and “weekly billing cycles” that vary across patients based on patient admission date (or when Medicare billing began).

11. CMS did not finalize its proposal to stratify the bundle.

    • CMS will consider refinements to account for resource variation for different service intensity, such as induction and maintenance periods.

Please click here for comprehensive information about billing and payment and here for comprehensive information about enrollment.

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CMS Expands Medicare Telehealth Coverage for Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Services

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) extended some Medicare coverage of telehealth services that the agency authorized during the Covid-19 pandemic. The changes were included in the final 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule rule that was published in the Federal Register on Dec. 28, 2020.

Extended Coverage of Certain Services

CMS permanently extended Medicare coverage of the following services provided via telehealth:

  • Home Visits, Established Patients (only for treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring mental health disorder when less complex, lasting typically 25 minutes) (99347 & 99348),
  • Group Psychotherapy (other than of a multiple-family group) (90853),
  • Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing (96121),
  • Care Planning for Patients with Cognitive Impairment (99483),
  • Domiciliary, Rest Home, or Custodial Care services (99334),
  • Domiciliary, Rest Home, or Custodial Care services (99335),
  • Visit Complexity with certain office/outpatient evaluation and management services (G2211),
  • Prolonged office or other outpatient evaluation and management service(s) (G2212), and
  • New codes for the initial month or subsequent months of psychiatric collaborative care model services (G2214).

CMS also finalized a long list of telehealth services that are covered temporarily until the end of the calendar year in which the public health emergency (PHE) ends. Here are some examples:

  • Home Visits, Established Patients (only for the treatment of substance use disorder or co-occurring mental health disorder when moderate to severe, typically lasting 60 minutes) (99349, 99350),
  • Psychological and Neuropsychological Testing (96130- 96133, 96136- 96139),
  • Therapy Services, Physical, and Occupational Therapy (97161-97168, 97110, 97112, 97116, 97535, 97750, 97755, 97760, 97761, 92521- 92524, 92507),
  • Emergency Department Visits (99281-99285),
  • Domiciliary, Rest Home, or Custodial Care services, Established patients (99336 & 99337),
  • Initial Hospital Care and Hospital Discharge Day Management (99221-99223, 99238, 99239), and
  • Subsequent Observation and Observation Discharge Day Management (99217, 99224-99226).

CMS said it intends these temporary extensions of coverage to allow time for the agency to consider whether these services should be extended permanently.

Special Coverage of Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Treatment via Telehealth

This rule implements a change in the Medicare statute enacted in the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act) authorizing Medicare coverage as of July 2019 of telehealth visits in a patient’s home (instead of a healthcare facility that qualifies as originating site) and regardless of whether the patient lives in a rural area, but only for treatment of substance use disorders (SUDs) and co-occurring mental illnesses. This final rule states that permanent Medicare coverage of home visits for treatment of SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions is limited to established patients with less complex conditions. Medicare coverage of home visits via telehealth for moderate to severe SUDs or co-occurring mental illnesses will be covered temporarily until the end of the calendar year in which the PHE ends.

CMS also finalized regulations allowing periodic assessments, which are part of opioid use disorder treatment services for opioid treatment programs, to be furnished via two-way interactive audio-video communication technology, as clinically appropriate, if all other applicable requirements are met.

With a late-breaking addition, the FY 2021 Appropriations and Covid-19 Relief legislation enacted into law on Dec. 27, 2020 includes a provision authorizing Medicare coverage of mental health services via telehealth to beneficiaries in their homes regardless of geographic location. This provision adds mental health to the existing Medicare coverage authorized in the SUPPORT Act of telehealth services for beneficiaries in their homes, regardless of geographic location, to treat SUDs and co-occurring mental health conditions. The new law adds a requirement that a provider must have seen the beneficiary within six months before receiving the telehealth service to treat a mental health condition. The provision in the latest Covid-19 Relief legislation also states that the Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary may implement this section by interim final rule or “program instruction.” NABH will advise members when HHS takes action to implement the important provision.

Coverage of Audio-only and Some Other Services Not Extended

Medicare will no longer cover audio-only telehealth visits by physicians (99441-99443) and non-physician practitioners (98966-98968) after the PHE ends. CMS explained that its longstanding interpretation of the statutory provision that authorizes coverage of telehealth refers use of an “interactive telecommunication system” that CMS interprets to exclude audio-only technology.

However, CMS did create a new code (G2252) to be used for coverage of longer virtual check-ins (11 to 20 minutes of medical discussion when the acuity of the patient’s problem is not likely necessary to warrant a visit, but the needs of the patient require more assessment time from the practitioner). This new code is valued at the same rate as 99442, whereas the pre-existing virtual check-in service (G2012) is valued at the rate of 99441.

Telehealth visits will also no longer be covered for the initial visit with patients in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) after the PHE. But CMS will allow more frequent subsequent SNF visits via telehealth, every 14 days instead of every 30 days.

Continued Coverage of Telehealth Physician Supervision of Residents and Services “Incident To” Physicians’ Services

CMS is continuing Medicare coverage of telehealth services delivered incident to the services of a billing professional until the later of the end of the year when the PHE ends or on Dec. 31, 2021. To bill Medicare, the supervising physician must be immediately available to intervene using live, two-way, audio-visual technology (e.g., a Zoom call with the patient, non-physician practitioner and physician).

In addition, CMS will continue to cover services for residents who are supervised by physicians via telehealth until the end of the PHE. Teaching physicians must use real-time audio-visual technology. This coverage will be extended after the PHE only in rural areas.
CMS clarified that Medicare will continue covering e-visits provided by licensed clinical social workers, clinical psychologists, (as well as physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech-language pathologists) on a permanent basis. E-visits include brief online assessment and management services via telehealth as well as virtual check-ins and remote evaluation services.

CMS has created two new codes for this expanded coverage:

  • Brief communication technology-based service, e.g. virtual check-in, by a qualified healthcare professional who cannot report evaluation and management services, provided to an established patient, not originating from a related e/m service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to a service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment; 5-10 minutes of medical discussion (G2251); and
  • Remote assessment of recorded video and/or images submitted by an established patient (e.g., store and forward), including interpretation with follow-up with the patient within 24 business hours, not originating from a related service provided within the previous seven days nor leading to a service or procedure within the next 24 hours or soonest available appointment (G2250).
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NABH Issue Brief: CMS Proposes Slight Payment Increase for PHPs and CMHCs in 2020

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed a hospital-based partial hospitalization program (PHP) payment rate of $228.20 for 2020, up from the 2019 rate of $220.86, in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System (OPPS/ASC) proposed rule the agency released on July 29.

CMS also proposed an increase for community mental health centers (CMHCs), which could see a payment rate of $124.59 in 2020 if the rule is made final. By comparison, CMHCs received a payment rate of $120.58 in 2019.

The rates set in the proposed CY 2020 rule are not based on the most recent average cost data from the PHP program, a deviation from CMS’ long-standing policy. When CMS calculated the average PHP program cost for the CY 2020 proposed rule, the agency found it had decreased by nearly 15 percent for CMHCs and 11 percent for hospitals-based PHPs.

After finding this decrease, CMS reviewed the data sets and found that a single provider in the CMHC set and a single provider in the hospital-based set had such dramatically lower-reported costs that it significantly skewed the average cost for both data sets.

Because the lower average costs were the result of single providers and could significantly reduce access for beneficiaries, CMS decided to use the CY 2019 cost average as a floor for both type of PHP rates in the CY 2020 rule. If not for this change, the rate for both types of PHPs would have been significantly lower than what CMS proposed in the rule.

It is important to note that CMS stressed that it does not intent to carry this policy forward: “To be clear, this policy would only apply for the CY 2020 rate setting,” the agency said in the rule.

CMS will accept comments on the CY 2020 proposed rule until September 27.

CY 2020 Rates
Level 1 Health and Behavior Services                                                         $28.59
Level 2 Health and Behavior Services                                                         $81.06
Level 3 Health and Behavior Services                                                         $130.27
Partial Hospitalization (3 or more services) for CMHCs                               $124.59
Partial Hospitalization (3 or more services) for Hospital-based PHPs         $228.20

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NABH Issue Brief: CMS Addresses OUD Treatment in OTPs and Office Settings in Proposed Rule

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Monday issued a proposed rule for establishing a Medicare Part B benefit and payment bundles for opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment services in opioid treatment program (OTP) settings and new HCPCS codes and bundled rates for office-based treatment of OUD.

OTP Bundled Payment

The proposal implements Section 2005 of the Substance Use Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities (SUPPORT) Act.

The rule proposes:

  • A definition of OUD treatment services and OTPs, including an explanation that services include access to all FDA-approved medications, counseling and therapy, and toxicology testing;
  • Enrollment policies that align with SAMHSA OTP regulation and that do not have additional conditions of participation;
  • Bundled payment methodologies that separate drug from non-drug treatment components, account for different medications and variable intensity of services, provide for service add-ons and partial- and full-billing for weekly episodes;
  • Use of audio-video communication technology; and
  • Zero beneficiary cost-sharing requirement for a time-limited period.
Office-based Care Bundled Payment

The agency also proposed a bundled payment for office-based OUD treatment services, to encourage the expansion of access to OUD care, including:

  • Coverage of OUD management, care coordination, psychotherapy, and counseling; medication to be billed and reimbursed under existing Medicare Part B or D; toxicology testing to be billed under Clinical Lab Fee Schedule;
  • Bundled payment methodologies that are based on monthly billing cycles to better align with office-based practices; one bundle for the initial month of treatment that is more service-intensive; and a second bundle for subsequent “maintenance months,” service add-on codes, and not restricted to addiction specialists;
  • Three new HCPCS codes to Category I of the list of Medicare telehealth services for office-based substance use disorder (SUD)/OUD services, permits a patient’s home as a telehealth originating site; and
  • No changes to cost-sharing.
Emergency Departments

Also of interest, the proposed rule requests information on emergency department practice patterns related to the initiation and use of MAT, and referral or follow-up care, for developing such bundles in future rulemaking.

Comments are due September 27, 2019. NABH has engaged a consulting firm to help analyze the proposed bundled payment methodology and payment rates, and the association will submit comments.

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