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Telepractice for Part C Early Intervention Services: Considerations for Effective Implementation and Medicaid Reimbursement

Spiker, D., Kelley, G., Shepherd, S., McCullough, K., & Greer, M.
November
2021

From the introduction: "During 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted in-person services for infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities and their families. As a result, states turned to remote service delivery, often referred to as telehealth or telepractice. In response to the public health crisis, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a Medicaid waiver to support the provision of EI services through telepractice (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services CMS waiver). Forty-seven (47) states already used Medicaid to reimburse Part C EI services, according to the Infant and Toddler Coordinators Association’s (ITCA) 2016 finance survey (2016 ITCA Finance Survey) Therefore, for most states, working with the state Medicaid office is a starting place to continue reimbursement for telepractice. Telepractice for Part C Early Intervention Services November 2021 2 States have indicated a desire to continue remote EI services which have been documented within Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP), once the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. This service delivery option can increase a state’s capacity to meet the diverse needs of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. This report will provide Part C state systems with information and guidance about how to secure Medicaid reimbursement for services delivered via telepractice. Specifically, we identify considerations, recommend activities, and provide summaries of relevant information and resources. States can use the information and resources to develop their own policies, procedures, and associated documents/materials to support Medicaid reimbursement."

Citation

Spiker, D., Kelley, G., Shepherd, S., McCullough, K., & Greer, M. (2021). Telepractice for Part C early intervention services: considerations for effective implementation and Medicaid reimbursement. Chapel Hill, North Carolina: The Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center.