Telemedicine and eConsults Policy Development

General Information

Emergency rules were put in place to support the use of telemedicine to ensure medical care and services are accessible during the public health emergency.

In June 2020, the Legislature passed SB20-212 to make the emergency rules permanent.

The Department is assessing the impact of these permanent rules while meeting the goal of increased accessibility while delivering quality care for members and practicing fiscal responsibility. This assessment will lead to Department policy for telemedicine. Read the Department's initial evaluation report.

HB21-1256, signed by Governor Polis on May 27, 2021, gives the Department the authority to set rules designed to guide provider entities that operate predominately or solely via telemedicine. To that end, the Department needs to define, identify, and set policy for these Electronic Health Entities (eHealth Entities). See stakeholder events below for more information.

During the time of assessment and policy development the Department will engage broadly with providers, members, and advocacy groups to ensure their voices, ideas, and concerns are heard and addressed.

Concurrently, the Department will be exploring the development of policy to codify use of eConsults. Because these initiatives are closely aligned, stakeholder engagement for eConsults policy development will be occurring in tandem.

Use this form to add your feedback, questions or comments on the Department's telemedicine and eConsults policies development. The Department commits to considering all feedback and providing summary information about feedback received as well as answers to questions in the Telemedicine Policy Development Q and A below or the eConsults Policy Development Q and A below.

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Telemedicine and eConsults Stakeholder Events and Provider Training Events

Topic Date/Time Meeting/Registration Link Meeting Documents/Recording
eHealth Entities February 23, 2022
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.		   eHealth Entities Presentation
Meeting Recording
eHealth Entities

August 18, 2021
3:30-4:30 p.m.

  

eHealth Entities Presentation
Meeting Recording


HCPF Telemedicine Evaluation - March 8, 2021

Previous Trainings

Name: Proposed Telemedicine Legislation
Date: March 11, 2021

Name: Proposed Telemedicine Legislation Virtual Providers
Date: March 3, 2021

Name: Proposed Telemedicine Legislation Behavioral Health Providers
Date: March 2, 2021

Name: Proposed Telemedicine Legislation Primary Care Providers and RAEs
Date: February 25, 2021

Name: eConsults
Date: November 20, 2020
Meeting Recording/Documents: 11-30-20 Recording; Slide Presentation

Name: General Telemedicine Update
Date: November 12, 2020
Meeting Recording/Documents: 11-12-20 Recordingl Slide Presentation; General Telemedicine Update Q and A

Name: Pediatric Behavioral Therapies Provider Telemedicine Training
Date: September 8, 2020
Meeting Recording/Documents: 9-8-20 Recording; Slide Presentation; Pediatric BH Therapies Q and A

Name: Medical Providers using CMS 1500 Professional Claims Telemedicine Training
Date: September 1, 2020
Meeting Recording/Documents: 9-1-20 Recording; Slide Presentation; Medical Providers Q and A

Name: FQHC, RHC, IHS Provider Telemedicine Training Webinar
Date: August 25, 2020
Meeting Recording/Documents: 8-25-20 Recording; Slide Presentation; FQHC, RHS, IHS Q and A

Name: Home Health Provider Telemedicine Training Webinar
Date: August 18, 2020
Meeting Recording/Documents: 8-18-20 Recording; Slide Presentation; Home Health Q and A

Name: Outpatient Therapies Provider Telemedicine Training Webinar
Date: August 14, 2020
Meeting Recording/Documents: 8-14-20 Recording; Slide Presentation; Outpatient Q and A

Resources

State Plan Amendment Update

On Friday, September 4, 2020, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the Department's Telemedicine State Plan Amendment, authorizing audio and data communication in addition to audio-visual modalities for delivery of care. This aligns with the Telemedicine Extension rule (MSB 20-05-21-A) adopted by the Medical Services Board on August 14, 2020, which allows the telemedicine policy changes implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency to continue after the emergency is declared over.

Rules Update

The Medical Services Board adopted the Telemedicine Extension rule (MSB# 20-05-21-A) on August 14, 2020, which permits telemedicine for physician services, home health, Federally-Qualified Health Centers, family planning services, Rural Health Clinics, and Community Mental Health Center services using interactive audio (including but not limited to telephone and relay calls), interactive video (including but not limited to interactive audiovisual modalities), or interactive data communication (including but not limited to live chat and excluding text messaging, electronic mail, and facsimile transmission) in lieu of face-to-face visits between clients and health professionals, as authorized under Senate Bill 20-212. The rule passed unanimously. The Telemedicine Extension rule makes permanent the changes in the emergency Telemedicine rule (MSB# 20-07-01-A) adopted by the Medical Services Board in response to COVID-19.