Definitions

Definitions The Division of Medicaid defines telemedicine as a method which uses electronic information and communication equipment to supply and support health care when remoteness disconnects patients and links primary care physicians, specialists, providers, and beneficiaries which includes, but is not limited to, telehealth services, remote patient monitoring services, teleradiology services, store-and-forward and continuous glucose monitoring services. A. The Division of Medicaid defines telehealth services as the delivery of health care by an enrolled Mississippi Medicaid provider, through a real-time communication method, to a beneficiary who is located at a different site. The interaction must be: 1. Live, 2. Interactive, and 3. Audiovisual. B. The Division of Medicaid defines the originating site, also referred to as the spoke site, as the physical location of the beneficiary at the time the telehealth service is provided. C. The Division of Medicaid defines the distant site, also referred to as the hub site, as the physical location of the provider delivering the telehealth service at the time the telehealth service is provided. D. The Division of Medicaid defines the telepresenter as medical personnel who: 1. Is a Mississippi Medicaid provider, or employed by a Mississippi Medicaid provider and directly supervised by the provider or an appropriate employee of the provider if the medical personnel’s license or certification requires supervision, 2. Is trained to use the appropriate technology at the originating site, 3. Is able to facilitate comprehensive exams under the direction of a distant site practitioner who is, or is employed by, a Mississippi Medicaid provider. 4. Must remain in the exam room for the entirety of the exam unless otherwise directed by the distant site provider for the appropriate treatment of the beneficiary, and 5. Must act within the scope of their practice, license, or certification. E. The Division of Medicaid defines direct supervision as the provider’s, or an appropriate employee of the provider, presence in the office suite and immediately available to furnish assistance and direction throughout the performance of the telehealth service but does not require the provider to be physically present in the room when the telehealth service is delivered.