Medicare FQHC Behavioral Health Televisits January 1, 2022

Beginning January 1, 2022, FQHC mental health visits will include visits furnished using interactive, real-time telecommunications technology. This change will allow FQHCs to report and receive payment for mental health visits furnished via real-time telecommunication technology in the same way they currently do when visits take place in-person, including audio-only visits when the beneficiary is not capable of, or does not consent to, the use of video technology. An in-person, non-telehealth visit must be furnished at least every 12 months for these services; however, exceptions to the in-person visit requirement may be made based on beneficiary circumstances (with the reason documented in the patient’s medical record) and more frequent visits are also allowed under our policy, as driven by clinical needs on a case-by-case basis.

For additional information on payment, billing, and claims processing, see https://www.cms.gov/files/document/se20016.pdf (PDF)