CMS will continue to allow the public health emergency provision of teaching physicians using real-time audiovisual technology to supervise resident physicians through 2023, but the American Medical Association is arguing that the provision should be made permanent.
Telesupervision has already been made permanent in certain rural areas, but CMS said it may consider a permanent policy change across the board, according to a June 26 report from the AMA.
The AMA sent CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure a letter in May urging the agency to permanently allow virtual supervision of residents with standards from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, regardless of where they work.
The AMA argues that this policy should be made permanent since physician shortages don't solely impact rural areas and that if ACGME rules are followed, virtual supervision would allow for frequent evaluation and open discussion.