Latest CMS and TJC Standards for Telemedicine

Telemedicine CMS and TJC Standards

Speaker ▪ Darlene Evans ▪ MSN, RN, CPHQ, NEA-BC ▪ Senior Consultant ▪ 678-326-1219 ▪ Email questions to CMS: Critical Access Hospitals: qsog_CAH@cms.hhs.gov. Acute hospitals: qsog_hospital@cms.hhs.gov. https://nashhealthcareconsulting.com/contact-us 2

Overview ▪ COVID-19 gave telemedicine a larger role in diagnosis ▪ Communicating remotely protects clinicians and patients from transmission of viruses including COVID-19 ▪ Federal government, some states and health insurers quickly suspended regulations that limited telemedicine ▪ Is anticipated telemedicine boom will outlive the coronavirus. 3

The Joint Commission (TJC) Telemedicine Standards 4

TJC Telemedicine Standards ▪ Has telemedicine standards in two separate chapters – LD & MS ▪ LD.04.03.09, EP23 (contract management) ▪ MS.13.01.01 – licensed practitioners who are responsible for the care and treatment of patients via telemedicine link are subject to the credentialing and privileging process of the originating site ▪ MS.13.01.03 – medical staff must recommend which clinical services may be delivered by licensed practitioner through telemedicine ▪ TJC made changes to align with the CMS CoP requirements 5

CMS Telemedicine Standards 6

CAH Telemedicine and EMTALA ▪ June 2013 memo ▪ Some CAH do not have a physician in the ED ▪ May be staffed with NP or PA with emergency care training in states that allow this scope of practice ▪ CoPs: Must have physician (MD/DO) immediately available by phone or radio contact ▪ Requirement can be met using telemedicine ▪ As well as by the MD/DO who practices on site in the CAH 7

Credentialing ▪ Two ways a hospital can use for credentialing and to grant physicians privileges ▪ Proxy credentialing with a Medicare certified hospital – “Distant-site hospital” ▪ Proxy credentialing with another telemedicine entity – “Distant-site telemedicine entity” 8

Definition of Telemedicine ▪ Telemedicine: ▪ Provision of clinical services to patients ▪ By practitioners from a distance ▪ Via electronic communications ▪ Can be simultaneously – tele-ICU services ▪ Can be non-simultaneously – teleradiology 9

Additional Information ▪ CMS discussed in the comment section the written agreement/contract should also allow the CAH ▪ Access to the complete credentialing and privileging file with exceptions – Include in the contract ▪ Upon request for each practitioner who is covered by the agreement 10 138

CMS Telemedicine Standards ▪ Board decides what categories of practitioners are eligible candidates for appointment to the MS (45) ▪ Such as physicians, podiatrist, dentist, CRNA, PA, NP, CNS, clinical social worker, clinical psychologist, dietician, etc. ▪ Must be consistent with any state laws and within the person’s state scope of practice ▪ Surveyor will ask to see a copy of the written telemedicine agreement ▪ Will look for documentation indicating that privileges have been granted to each telemedicine practitioner 11 138

Thank You Register Now ▪ Darlene Evans, ▪ MSN, RN, CPHQ, NEA-BC ▪ Senior Consultant ▪ 678-326-1219 ▪ Email questions to CMS: Critical Access Hospitals: qsog_CAH@cms.hhs.gov. Acute hospitals: qsog_hospital@cms.hhs.gov. https://nashhealthcareconsulting.com/contact-us 12 138

Telemedicine CMS and TJC Standards