State Telemedicine Policy Information
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Vermont Telemedicine Policy
Vermont Telemedicine Policy
The Green Mountain State has had a telehealth parity law since 2012, which even includes coverage under state employee health plans. In 2017, the state expanded this coverage further, by removing previous restrictions on the patient’s location at the time of care. Now Vermont patients can receive virtual care from their own homes!
State Policy Overview
Medicaid
Yes
Private Payer
Yes
Parity
Yes
Additional State Telemedicine Info
Parity Laws
Vermont’s parity law was enacted in 2012! Private payers (including state employee health plans) and Medicaid are required to cover live video telemedicine. Additionally, a law passed in 2017 got rid of the restrictions on patient location at the time of the visit.
Medicaid
Vermont Medicaid covers “clinically appropriate services” delivered through telemedicine and pays at the same rate as in-person services. The program does not recognize store-and-forward technologies as telemedicine, but does cover live video and home telemonitoring.
Type Of Telemedicine Covered
Live video telemedicine is required to be covered under Vermont’s parity law. Additionally, Vermont Medicaid will reimburse for remote patient monitoring for congestive heart failure.
Covered Health Services
Vermont Medicaid pays for live video for any “clinically appropriate” medical service. The program also covers remote patient monitoring for those with congestive heart failure.
Vermont’s parity law doesn’t state which medical conditions are required to be covered through live video. However, the law does say that it allows, but does not require, coverage by payers for teledermatology and teleophthalmology.
Eligible Healthcare Providers
Prescriptions can be based off a live video telemedicine consult as long as providers follow the same care guidelines as in-person care.
Online Prescriptions
Prescriptions can be based off a live video telemedicine consult as long as providers follow the same care guidelines as in-person care.
Informed Patient Consent
Vermont law requires providers to get a patient’s informed consent to do a telemedicine visit.
Cross-State Telemedicine Licensing
Vermont recently decided to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which makes it easier for out-of-state telemedicine providers to practice in the state. Vermont is still in the process of implementing this.
Restrictions On Locations
While Vermont used to limit where patients could receive virtual care (health facilities), recent legislation has removed these restrictions. Patients can now receive telemedicine services from their homes.
Reimbursement Rates
Reimbursement rates are equal for telemedicine and in-person services.
Billing Codes
When billing Medicaid for the telemedicine service, simply use the relevant HCPCS code, along with the GT (telemedicine) modifier and the 02 place of service code. See your Medicaid Manual for more details.