Wellness and behavioral health visits are among a few telehealth coverage expansions the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) wants to add to the list of Medicare reimbursable telehealth activities under a proposal released Thursday last week. Providers also would be paid for telehealth services in rural areas nearer big cities under a geographical expansion in the proposed rule.

The 609-page proposed rule principally deals with annual changes to polices under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including eliminating the exclusion for continuing medication education (CME) under the Sunshine Act that requires drug companies and medical device makers to disclose payments to physicians.
Added to the list of covered telehealth services by the proposal are annual wellness visits, both for an initial visit, and for subsequent visits, if they include a personalized prevention plan of service.