Description: The health care authority (HCA) filed notice of its intent to submit medicaid SPA 20-0026 under WSR 20-17-030. SPA 20-0026 will 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, the SPA will remove the list of originating sites in Attachment 4, which is the section of the state plan that describes the payment methodology for services delivered via telehealth/telemedicine. Subsequently, HCA made the decision to align the payment methodology for telehealth/telemedicine with the methodology for physicians' services. Therefore HCA is updating the methodology by including that rates may be established and updated using a flat fee (based upon market value, other states' fees, budget impacts, etc.) in addition to the current RBRVS methodology as adopted in the medicare fee schedule data base (MFSDB).

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).