From the CMS QPP Updates Newsletter:
From MLN Connects Newsletter, Special Edition: October 1, 2025:
What’s Changing with Medicare Telehealth?
-
Fewer Services Will Be Covered
Many telehealth services that were allowed during the COVID-19 emergency will no longer be covered unless Congress acts. This mostly affects non-mental health services. -
As prior to COVID -19 Flexibilities, Where the Patient Is Matters
Patients must be in rural areas or certain medical facilities to get Medicare-covered telehealth (except for mental health care).
Services from home will not be covered for most types of care. -
Mental Health Services Are Still Covered
Telehealth for mental and behavioral health can still be done from home.
However, patients must have an in-person visit at least once every year to keep using telehealth for these services. -
Advance Notice May Be Needed
If a provider offers a telehealth service that Medicare won’t pay for, they may need to give the patient an Advance Beneficiary Notice to explain the cost. -
Some Providers Can Still Use Telehealth Freely
Providers in Medicare Shared Savings Program ACOs can continue offering telehealth without location limits, even after October 1.Source: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/fee-for-service-providers
This edition of the newsletter was sent to subscribers on October 1. You are encouraged to subscribe to updates from CMS. Archived editions of the newsletter are available here.
North Carolina Medicaid provider reimbursement rate reductions go into effect October 1, 2025.
The reduction percentages vary from 3%, 8% or 10% and apply to procedure codes.
NC Medicaid plans to publish detailed updated fee schedules to the NC Medicaid Covered Codes and Fee Schedules Portal. You are advised to check back frequently for these updated documents.
North Carolina Division of Health Benefits officially notified Vaya Health of upcoming changes to the NC Medicaid fee schedule rates effective October 1, 2025. The new detailed fee schedule changes have not yet been provided.
Vaya Health notified network providers in their recent bulletin that it will update their systems to implement the fee schedule changes no earlier than November 1, 2025. If there is no legislative agreement by October 31, Vaya will implement the rate cuts on November 1, retroactive to the effective date of October 1. On that date they plan to update their systems to pay at the newly published rates, and will take steps to recoup the difference in reimbursement for services provided back to October 1.
Vaya indicated they will issue more detailed communications soon, and provided links to email them with questions as well as a link to join the Vaya Provider Touchpoint webinar on October 3rd.
NC Medicaid, in collaboration with the five NC Medicaid Managed Care Standard Plans, hosts the...
Fifth Annual Virtual Statewide Quality Forum
Wednesday, October 8 from noon-1:30 p.m.
Topics will include:
- Administrative Simplification Workgroup Updates
- Early Intervention and EPSDT: Proven Strategies for Success – Feedback from Providers
and Standard Plans - Key Updates from NC Medicaid
The forum is designed for providers, practice managers, and quality managers to engage in
focused discussion about how to successfully apply Medicaid Managed Care quality initiatives to
generate positive outcomes.
Please register to participate in this valuable and informative forum that will offer practical
applications to enhance and improve your services to NC Medicaid members.
Workplace violence in healthcare has been discussed with increasing frequency since the COVID pandemic.
Register now to attend the (free) Second Annual Piedmont Area Falls-Free Expo!
Open to health care professionals and the adults they serve, this year's expo is filled with events--- from stability and balance exercise classes to chair yoga, to educational presentations including the importance of hearing in fall risk and other concepts related to fall prevention in older adults.
Did we forget to mention there is also free food and raffles to win prizes?
WHEN: Wednesday, September 24, 2025
WHERE: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness
114 West 30th Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
TIME: 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Registration is available online or by phone at (336) 904-0328.
Use these links to learn more and view the schedule of events.
Need free Contact Hours on this topic? Could your staff benefit from a refresher on falls in older adults?
Northwest AHEC has two self-paced, interactive, online courses on the topic! Check them out!
Falls: Screening, Risk Assessment and Care Planning for Older Adults in the Community
Double Trouble: Diabetes and Falls
On September 12, 2025,Governor Josh Stein directed the State Health Director, as a measure for the prevention and control of communicable disease, to issue statewide standing orders to facilitate access to the COVID-19 vaccine in accordance with NC laws and FDA approvals for those who wish to receive it.
These orders allow an immunizing pharmacist licensed with the NC Board of Pharmacy and practicing in North Carolina in accordance with the conditions of their licensure to administer COVID-19 vaccines approved by the FDA per the conditions outlined in the orders.
These include Comirnaty (manufactured by Pfizer), Mnexspike (manufactured by Moderna), Nuvaxovid (manufactured by Novavax) and Spikevax (manufactured by Moderna).
Several health insurance companies in North Carolina have recently implemented programs to review claims and codes that results in the down coding of Level 4 and Level 5 Evaluation and Management (E/M) claims.
According to the North Carolina Medical Society, Aetna's process does not target all Level 4 and 5 codes, nor does it include all providers within the state. However, there remains confusion about why the insurer has implemented this program. Cigna's approach is broader and applies to all physicians and to six E/M codes: 99204-99205 (new patient), 99214-99215 (established patient), and 99244-99245 (consult for new & established patients). Cigna will implement this review nationally on October 1, 2025.
Along with the North Carolina Medical Society, many professional societies across the country are also alerting their members to this issue.
It is critical to follow the appropriate appeals process for any claims you believe to be inappropriately down coded!
