Extension of Telehealth Flexibilities Issued During the COVID-19 Federal Public Health Emergency
The South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) is announcing a further extension of telehealth flexibilities issued during the COVID-19 federal public health emergency (PHE).
SCDHHS previously issued guidance via Medicaid bulletins announcing the status of telehealth flexibilities upon the expiration of the federal PHE (Medicaid bulletin MB# 23-018). Generally, flexibilities were grouped as those that were made permanent, continued for one year after the expiration of the federal PHE or expired upon the end of the federal PHE May 11, 2023.
Flexibilities continued for one year after the expiration of the federal PHE are now extended by SCDHHS through Dec. 31, 2024. This extension aligns with a similar policy announced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that extended telehealth flexibilities issued during the COVID-19 federal PHE for Medicare providers through Dec. 31, 2024.
As a reminder, these extended flexibilities, including telehealth flexibilities, were included in the applicable Medicaid provider manuals prior to the end of the federal PHE. Provider manuals can be found on the SCDHHS website here.
South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) are responsible for the coverage and reimbursement of services described in this bulletin for members enrolled in an MCO.
Providers may direct any questions related to this bulletin to the Provider Service Center (PSC). PSC representatives can be reached at (888) 289-0709 from 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday. Providers can also submit an online inquiry at https://www.scdhhs.gov/providers/contact-provider-representative.
Thank you for your continued support of the South Carolina Healthy Connections Medicaid program.