PROVISION IN MEDICARE BILL AFFECTS ASSISTED LIVING

VCAL Focus (October 2003)

The Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act currently under consideration by Congress includes a provision to add assisted living facilities to the list of originating telehealth sites.  A telehealth site is a location that offers a telehealth service, whereby a physician or practitioner consults, via a telecommunications system, with an individual enrolled in Medicare.  These services are reimbursed by Medicare and offers residents and members of the community the opportunity to access health care services without visiting the practitioners office.  The provision also names the following as new originating sites: skilled nursing facilities, board-and-care homes, and long term care facilities.  In addition, the bill assigns the responsibility of defining assisted living facility to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.  NCAL intends to monitor the bills progress and work with HHS to ensure that its definition of assisted living is appropriate.