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CMS-1403-FC
practitioner) at the distant site and, if necessary, the
telepresenter. We also look for similarities in the
telecommunications system used to deliver the proposed
service, for example, the use of interactive audio and
video equipment.
● Category #2: Services that are not similar to the
current list of telehealth services. Our review of these
requests includes an assessment of whether the use of a
telecommunications system to deliver the service produces
similar diagnostic findings or therapeutic interventions as
compared with the face to face "hands on" delivery of the
same service. Requestors should submit evidence showing
that the use of a telecommunications system does not affect
the diagnosis or treatment plan as compared to a face to
face delivery of the requested service.
Since establishing the process, we have added the
following to the list of Medicare telehealth services:
psychiatric diagnostic interview examination; ESRD services
with two to three visits per month and four or more visits
per month (although we require at least one visit a month
to be furnished in-person “hands on”, by a physician,
clinical nurse specialist (CNS), nurse practitioner (NP),
or physician assistant (PA) to examine the vascular access
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