In 2023, MassHealth issued Home Health Agency Bulletin 87, which provides guidance for providing home health services via telehealth. Bulletin 87 also recognized telehealth face-to-face encounters as conforming face-to-face encounters for the purposes of home health agency service delivery.
MassHealth is issuing this communication to provide clarification regarding the extension of telehealth, and to avoid service disruptions for MassHealth members after December 31, 2024. MassHealth is waiving the portion of Bulletin 87 that would have prohibited telehealth home health services after December 31, 2024/ Services described on pages 3 and 4 of Bulletin 87 may continue indefinitely pending the issuance of further MassHealth guidance by bulletin.
Face-to-Face Encounter Visits:
- MassHealth is continuing to recognize face-to-face encounters provided via telehealth indefinitely for dates of service after December 31, 2024. The State has discretion to provide this flexibility per https://tinyurl.com/2mhnvafe, which says the face-to-face encounter may occur through telehealth, as implemented by the State.
Certain Home Health Services via Telehealth:
- M.G.L. c. 118E, s. 79 provides authority for MassHealth to cover telehealth services when appropriate, in addition to in-person services. Providers may continue to provide home health services as described by Bulletin 87. To view this guidance on rendering services via telehealth, see https://tinyurl.com/yckvye9r.
- As a reminder, home health providers are required to us the modifier GT when a visit has been conducted via telehealth. Correct use of the modifier is necessary for MassHealth to comply with state and federal requirements around member access.
If you have questions regarding this guidance, please contact the LTSS Provider Service Center at (844) 368-5184 or support@masshealthltss.com.