The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has released a report on telehealth usage by home health agencies during the early stages of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE).

The report reveals that home health agencies rarely used telehealth at the beginning of the PHE, and when they did, it often didn't comply with Medicare requirements. While the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) allowed broader telehealth technology use for home health agencies in 2021, the report emphasizes the need for improved education to help providers navigate telehealth policy changes and ensure effective utilization. The report also recommends monitoring the reporting of new G-codes to refine Medicare telehealth rules for home health agencies.

Click here to access the full OIG report for further details on telehealth usage.