Hi Amy L.,

Thanks for bringing up this important distinction. Many private insurance companies are doing the same thing. United and Cigna don't include AAC or other important codes. Wow, how hard was if for them to just let professionals decide which codes could and could not be provided adequately though telehealth services. It all seem so random.

Now the questions is how do we correct this problem. Can anyone direct us to the lobbying team or people who can help us get this issue addressed as soon as possible. This issue very directly impacts people with ALS!

I'm in the final months of a study entitled The Value and Feasibility of Telepractice Speech Generating Device Evaluation and Treatment for People with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). I had started it in 2018. If I can be of help let me know.

Sincerely,

Amy Roman, MS, CCC-SLP
Augmentative Communication Specialist

Forbes Norris ALS Research and Treatment Center
& ALSA Golden West AAC Evaluation Center and Lending Library

1100 Van Ness Ave.
6th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94109

Cell (415)518-0592
Fax (415)375-4827

AmyandpALS.Com
Pinterest.com/AmyandpALS

On Friday, May 1, 2020, 07:22:45 AM PDT, Amy Lustig <xxxxxx@gmail.com> wrote:

Although this is good news in some respects, the codes approved for reimbursement are limited to a few basic speech and language evaluation and treatment. Many codes are not reimbursable, including any AAC-specific ones, swallowing, or instrumental assessments.

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On May 1, 2020, at 9:14 AM, Alisa Brownlee <xxxxxx@alsa-national.org> wrote:

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From: ACRM | American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine <xxxxxx@acrm.org>
Date: April 30, 2020 at 11:01:06 PM EDT
To: Alisa Brownlee <xxxxxx@alsa-national.org>
Subject: ACRM Breaking News
Reply-To: xxxxxx@acrm.org

PTs, OTs, SLPs Can Now Bill CMS for Telehealth Services

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued new waivers to add additional types of healthcare professionals who can provide “distant site” telehealth services, “including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, and others.”

These waivers were part of a new round of substantial regulatory and rule changes announced today aimed at enhancing “flexibility for Medicare telehealth services” in order to expand care during the current COVID-19 emergency.

For full details, please see the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Blanket Waivers for Health Care Providers.

This breaking news is brought to you by ACRM and the Pandemic Task Force.

Tracey Wallace, MS, CCC-SLP

Co-Chair, ACRM Technology Networking Group

Co-Chair, Pandemic Task Force

Speech-Language Pathologist/ Clinical Research Scientist, Shepherd Center

John Dzivak

Co-Chair, Pandemic Task Force

Vice President & Chief Information Officer, Pt Pal

CALL FOR PAPERS & POSTERS

To support our healthcare heros serving on the front lines, ACRM has extended the 2020 Annual Conference Call for Proposals. Proposals for scientific papers (18-minute oral presentations) and posters will now be accepted through 12 May.

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