Payers have taken advantage of flexible telehealth rules first approved by Congress in 2020, according to a study published March 17 by America's Health Insurance Plans.
About 72 million Americans receive health coverage under a consumer-directed health plan, or a combination of a high-deductible plan with a tax advantaged health savings account. The Internal Revenue Code limits CDHPs from covering certain services before an enrollee meets their deductible, which is why payers urged Congress to pass more flexible telehealth rules starting in 2020.
This month, those rules were extended through December, and CDHPs have taken advantage of those flexibilities by covering many physical and mental telehealth services on a pre-deductible basis.
In 2021, in-network providers were generally those who delivered telehealth services, with some telehealth vendors using their own provider networks, or a combination of the two.
No plans reported excluding any remote-appropriate service claims from being processed pre-deductible.
Percentage of CDHPs covering these services without a deductible in 2021:
- Primary care: 95 percent
- Mental health: 95 percent
- Chronic care: 89 percent
- Acute/urgent care: 89 percent
- Substance use disorder: 84 percent
- Dermatology: 84 percent
- Physical therapy: 79 percent
- Wellness or nutritional coaching: 79 percent
- Occupational therapy: 74 percent
- Orthopedic: 68 percent
- Other: 11 percent