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COVID-19 Update to Telehealth Guidance on CLASS Professional and Specialized Therapies - February 22

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The following CLASS professional and specialized therapy services are available by telehealth. This is effective March 15, 2020, through March 31, 2021.

  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Speech and language pathology
  • Recreational therapy
  • Music therapy
  • Behavior support
  • Dietary services
  • Cognitive rehabilitation therapy

Acceptable telehealth formats are synchronous audiovisual interaction or asynchronous store and forward technology. Use these with synchronous audio interaction between the client and the distant site provider.

The Office of Civil Rights has relaxed HIPAA requirements to allow use of video for telehealth services. Texas Medicaid recognizes OCR’s HIPAA enforcement discretion as it relates to telehealth platform requirements.

Therapies must have a treatment plan. The goals and outcomes must support being provided through telehealth. Revision of therapy hours may be added to an IPC and authorized by HHSC per the process outlined in IL 2020-46 (PDF).

Therapies not eligible for delivery by telehealth are:

  • Massage therapy
  • Hippotherapy
  • Therapeutic horseback riding
  • Aquatic therapy

Email your program policy mailbox with questions about this alert.