Telemedicine Coverage and Payment in Illinois
February 2024

Like many states, Illinois implemented several special rules to facilitate the use of telemedicine during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including requiring private health insurers and Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) to:
- Cover services provided via telemedicine
- Reimburse physicians and other healthcare professionals at the same rate as would be paid for delivering services in person
The response to these temporary changes was overwhelmingly positive. An ISMS survey of Illinois physicians found that of the 81% of physicians who reported using telemedicine, three-quarters had not done so prior to the start of the pandemic. The most common barriers to previous telemedicine use included technology requirements and payer reimbursement policies.
Illinois physicians believe telemedicine is a useful tool for caring for their patients. In an ISMS survey, nearly 75% indicated that telemedicine is especially helpful for chronic care management and delivering services to frail and elderly patients. And two-thirds indicated it was useful for handling urgent care issues, allowing physicians to more effectively “triage” patients and ensure their complaints are handled in the most appropriate care setting.
Short summary
Illinois law now incorporates several provisions that reduce the barriers to expanding telemedicine access for Illinois patients. Specifically, the law:
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