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More than 10.1 million Medicare beneficiaries have received medical care via telemedicine since the coronavirus hit, thanks to an expansion of services and coverage during the pandemic. In recent months, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has more than doubled the number of health care services beneficiaries can receive via telemedicine. The agency has allowed an additional 135 services, including home visits, eye exams and physical, occupational and speech therapy. In early August, CMS proposed covering some of these new services on a permanent basis. According to CMS Administrator Seema Verma, telemedicine has proven to be a boon for patients and physicians.
It's clear that telemedicine will continue to play a key role in health care for Medicare beneficiaries. “Telemedicine is more integrated into our lives now, so some of the changes in coverage are likely to stay,” says Mei Kwong, executive director of the Center for Connected Health Policy.
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