Digital health payment

AMA initiatives work to secure coverage and payment for digital health solutions including supporting the development of appropriate CPT® codes to support clinical integration, proper valuation, and expanded commercial and federal health program coverage.

The Digital Medicine Payment Advisory Group (DMPAG) is an AMA initiative bringing together a diverse cross-section of nationally recognized experts to identify issues and advise on comprehensive solutions for coding, payment and coverage. 

The AMA/Specialty Society RVS Update Committee (RUC) describes the resources required to provide physician services—an essential step to receiving payment in the digital landscape.

Although the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) makes all final decisions about Medicare payments, CMS considers RUC recommendations in developing Relative Value Units (RVU). 

As telemedicine is used to improve access to care, care coordination and quality, physicians must follow policies (PDF) to utilize this digital innovation and receive payment (PDF) for their services.

The AMA Advocacy Resource Center provides materials for physician advocates focused on state telemedicine issues including physician licensure (PDF) and private insurance payment policies (PDF) via telemedicine.

Telehealth adoption resources for physicians

• Telehealth Implementation Playbook
• Telehealth Quick Guide
• STEPS Forward® Telehealth Integration and Optimization Toolkit
• STEPS Forward® Telemedicine and Team-Based Care Toolkit
• Telehealth article in New England Journal of Medicine
• HHS on health information technology

Expediting medical licensure

• Legislation: Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (PDF)
• Model Bill: Telehealth licensure act (PDF)

National telemedicine advocacy campaigns

• AMA Advocacy in Action
• AMA Issue Brief: Supporting equitable payment for telehealth (PDF)
• FDASIA health IT report (PDF)
• Statement to U.S. House of Representatives on telemedicine (PDF)
• Statement to U.S. House of Representatives on benefits of technology for patients (PDF)

Additional digital health resources

• Practice innovation strategies

For additional information, including the model AMA Telemedicine Act (PDF), contact Kim Horvath, JD, senior legislative attorney at [email protected].