Description: The health care authority (HCA) intends to submit Medicaid SPA 20-0026 in order to update and streamline the information regarding telehealth/telemedicine services in the medicaid state plan. Because telehealth/telemedicine is a method of delivering services and not an actual service, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) informed HCA that it is not necessary to include information about telehealth/telemedicine in Attachment 3, which is the section of the state plan that describes medicaid services. Therefore SPA 20-0026 is updating Attachment 3 by removing that information.

In addition, CMS informed HCA that it is not necessary to list specific originating sites in Attachment 4, which is the section of the state plan that describes the payment methodology for services delivered via telehealth/telemedicine. SPA 20-0026 is streamlining Attachment 4 by removing the list of originating sites, while retaining the description of the payment methodology.

SPA 20-0026 is expected to have no effect on the annual aggregate reimbursement/payment for services delivered via telehealth/telemedicine.

A draft of SPA 20-0026 is available for review. HCA would appreciate any input or concerns regarding this SPA. To request a copy or submit comments, please contact the person named below (please note that all comments are subject to public review and disclosure, as are the names of those who comment).

Contact: Jodi Kunkel, Occupational Nurse Consultant, Clinical Evaluation, 626 8th Avenue S.E., Olympia, WA 98504, TTY 711, email Jodi.kunkel@hca.wa.gov.