CMS proposes easing telemedicine credentialing requirements

CMS is proposing simplification of its rules on credentialing and granting privileges to hospitals and clinicians that provide telemedicine services. The proposed change would allow hospitals to turn to a third-party organization to verify the credentials of providers seeking telemedicine privileges under Medicare and Medicaid, though each hospital's governing body still would make the final decision on granting privileges. CMS says the current rule causes duplication and is a major burden on some institutions, particularly small, rural and critical-access hospitals.

The proposal would eliminate an apparent conflict between Medicare conditions of participation and the Joint Commission's tolerance for "privileging by proxy." Under the 2008 Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, the Joint Commission is set to lose Medicare recognition for its hospital accreditation program on July 15, 2010. "Small hospital and CAH medical staffs, in particular, are
concerned about the burden of privileging hundreds of specialty physicians and practitioners that large academic medical centers make
available to them," CMS says in its proposal.

Additionally, CMS is looking to allow distant-site hospitals--where the remote consultant is located in telemedicine activities--to evaluate the quality and appropriateness of remote diagnoses and treatments provided by its own staff to critical-access hospitals.

CMS is accepting public comments on the proposed rule through July 26.

For more information:
- see this Healthcare IT News story
- read the CMS proposal in the Federal Register

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