Telehealth News
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 31, 2023 Video Telehealth Use Is More Common Among Urban Veterans Results of a cohort study indicated that despite a wide uptake in video telehealth (VTH) use during the COVID-19 pandemic, urban veterans used this modality more, specifically veterans of American Indian and Alaska Native descent.
- HealthcareITNews July 31, 2023 New research indicates that an app-based monitoring tool for postoperative oncologic patients was not inferior to in-person follow-up. The CEO of Amwell, Cleveland Clinic's partner in the telehealth initiative, discusses how the organizations are expanding their virtual care and remote patient monitoring efforts and where they see telemedicine in five years.
- Telehealth.org July 31, 2023 Telephone vs Video Telehealth Preferences: Teletherapists vs. Medical Colleagues One of the most noticeable shifts in mental health care since 2020 has been the exponential increase in telehealth service delivery. The forced shift to telehealth exposed differing preferences between practitioner disciplines for telephone vs. video telehealth technologies. This article will summarize these differences and make related recommendations for telehealth expansion in the future.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 28, 2023 Hybrid Virtual Care Lessens Negative Environmental Impacts Using hybrid virtual care yields a 25 percent fall in carbon emissions and a 35 percent drop in water consumption, a case study indicates.
- Telehealth.org July 27, 2023 Full HIPAA Enforcement Will Be Reinstated on August 10 The COVID-related discretionary enforcement of HIPAA for telehealth service delivery will end on August 10, 2023, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The announcement is titled, Expiration of Notifications of Enforcement Discretion and Transition Period for Telehealth.
- HealthcareITNews July 27, 2023 APAC shifting to tech-enabled distributed model of care: Philips Many health facilities are already delivering acute and intensive care virtually or at home.
- Telehealth.org July 26, 2023 Does Your Website or App Use Illegal Tracking Technologies? Warnings by FTC & HHS Office for Civil Rights In the modern digital age, healthcare professionals and organizations face an evolving landscape of opportunities and challenges. Among the most discussed issues is the use of online tracking technologies in the healthcare sector. Notably, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have issued warnings about the potential privacy and security risks these technologies present.
- FIERCEHealthcare July 26, 2023 'It's going to get worse': Providers tap into health tech tools to prevent maternal health emergencies One in three counties in the U.S. is considered a maternal healthcare desert. Since that statistic was dropped back in October 2022 by March of Dimes, care in corners of the country has only continued to dry up. In response to the crisis, providers are using every seed in their seed bag and looking to "multimodal" technology strategies to predict health emergencies before they happen.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 26, 2023 Telehealth Yields Higher No-Show Rates for Behavioral Health Patients New research indicated difficulties behavioral health patients initially face when using telehealth technology, which yields higher no-show rates.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 25, 2023 Digital Therapeutics Provide Benefits but Require Further Research While digital therapeutics can overcome common care barriers, an assessment of abilities and reimbursement efforts should be considered.
- HealthcareITNews July 25, 2023 Community Health Systems improves chronic condition outcomes with RPM Remote patient monitoring has helped the health system boost patient engagement, improve patient care quality through evidence-based therapies and reduce clinicians' workloads.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENC July 24, 2023 Hybrid Care Model Provided Effective Prenatal Care During the PHE Various prenatal health outcomes among mothers and newborns during the PHE were not impacted by the implementation of a hybrid care model.
- HealthcareITNews July 24, 2023 When physicians and health IT leaders embrace an 'AI as an ally' mindset Dhruv Suyamprakasam, leader of a virtual healthcare company, discusses why he believes ChatGPT enhances productivity for providers of virtual and in-person care.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 20, 2023 Nonprofit Organization Evaluates Digital Healthcare Technologies Cybersecurity Plan A nonprofit organization launched a digital health program to improve health and lower costs through independent evaluations.
- Telehealth.org July 20, 2023 Understanding Your Responsibilities Under the New US Federal NCSIP 2023 Cybersecurity Plan As licensed mental health and addiction professionals, our responsibility to our clients extends beyond the therapy or counseling room. The Biden-Harris Administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (NCSIP), introduced in March, highlights the significance of this extended duty. Also known as the 2023 Cybersecurity Plan or Cybersecurity Strategy, this comprehensive blueprint is designed to enhance cyber resilience, mitigate cyber threat activities, and distribute cyber defense responsibilities throughout the US, including our addictions and mental health field.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 20, 2023 Collaboration Enhances Teledermatology for Underserved Areas A collaboration between George Washington University and Pfizer Global Medical Grants increases access to virtual dermatologic care.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 18, 2023 Lack of Digital Tools Create Barrier to Mental Healthcare Access A new report indicated that limited understanding, a lack of efficacy, and the absence of digital tools make mental healthcare less accessible.
- Telehealth.org July 18, 2023 Telehealth Cures for Clinician Burnout Unfortunately, clinician burnout remains a widespread issue in the industry, even as the pandemic winds down. According to approximately one-third of clinicians, chronic staffing shortages and unfavorable financial margins contribute to this problem, making burnout the biggest threat to healthcare. Now that COVID is morphing into a variety of Long-COVID disorders and anxieties about global warming are on the rise, cures for burnout are increasingly relying on telehealth.
- HealthcareITNews July 18, 2023 Teladoc Health will integrate Microsoft AI for automated clinical documentation The expanded partnership allows clinical documentation from virtual care visits to be automatically generated using Microsoft's AI capabilities, including GPT4.
- Telehealth.org July 18, 2023 Mental Health Equity & Telehealth: Reducing Health Disparities Mental health equity, an essential principle in modern healthcare, attempts to remove health disparities that disproportionately impact marginalized or underserved communities. Health equity ensures that everyone can equally obtain quality healthcare services regardless of socioeconomic or geographic conditions.
- HealthcareITNews July 17, 2023 Commonwealth Care Alliance shares key lessons from its robust telehealth program CCA prioritizes virtual care because access to technology is a social factor that impacts health – and it enhances care coordination by engaging members where they are.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 17, 2023 App-Based Postoperative Monitoring Improves Cancer Patient Recovery New research indicates that an app-based monitoring tool for postoperative oncologic patients was not inferior to in-person follow-up.
- Telehealth.org July 11, 2023 Telehealth Law: Healthcare Translation Services for Limited English Proficient People One often neglected legal requirement by telehealth practitioners involves translation or language access services for limited English proficient (LEP) patients. This article will outline the federal and state laws, when and to whom they apply, then offer two case scenarios (one medical, another behavioral) to illustrate how they typically work in telehealth and relevant resources.
- HealthcareITNews July 10, 2023 Why telemedicine must play a central role in solving the specialist shortage The CEO of Summus Global discusses how virtual specialty care can help overcome patient access challenges – and talks about how employer-sponsored telehealth is one key component.
- Telehealth.org July 6, 2023 Addiction Telehealth Using a Patient Gateway: A Multi-Cultural Case Study While many practitioners have been using telehealth systems for years, many have as yet to begin using patient gateways to augment their services, in-person or through telehealth systems. The following article is written as a series of articles explaining how to integrate an emerging technology into one’s clinical practice and how to do so in a culturally appropriate manner. First, the emerging topic selected is that of patient gateways or portals.
- Telehealth.org June 29, 2023 Can Healthcare Professionals Share HIPAA PHI without Written Consent? According to the US Department of Human Services (HHS), healthcare professionals can share HIPAA-protected health information (HIPAA PHI) with one another without written content in several circumstances. Such treatment communications may occur orally, in writing, by phone, fax, email, or otherwise. More specifically, the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows covered healthcare providers to share protected health information for treatment purposes without patient authorization, as long as they use reasonable safeguards.
- INTERNET FOR ALL June 28, 2023 Expanding Internet through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program High-speed internet can help patients get the health care they need. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced $42.45 billion for BEAD Program funding to connect every American to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service. Each state will receive BEAD Program funding as a part of the Internet for All initiative.
- HRSA June 28, 2023 Learn about HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office for the Advancement of Telehealth improves access to quality health care through integrated telehealth services. Learn more about the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth’s grant programs, policy and research efforts, resources, and more.
- HealthcareITNews June 26,2023 New survey sheds light on providers' embrace of telemedicine The vast majority of telehealth caregivers in Virginia are confident in the quality of virtual care. Two experts from the Virginia Telehealth Network go in-depth about new poll data that shows its staying power.
- mhealthintelligence June 26, 2023 Funding Supports School-Based Telehealth Services in NY State Financial support from various sources will allow Rochester, New York, school students to access telehealth services for acute care and mental health conditions.
- Foley & Lardner, LLP June 26, 2023 Good News in Digital Health CB Insights has released their State of Digital Health Report for Q1 2023, and there is finally some good news to report.
- mhealthintelligence June 23, 2023 Telehealth Most Commonly Used for Follow-ups, Behavioral Healthcare A new report shows that telehealth usage remained steady from 2022 to 2023, with follow-up and behavioral healthcare cited as the primary reasons for a virtual visit.
- mhealthintelligence June 23, 2023 Virtual Care Model Aims to Provide Clinical Support in Nursing Homes A pilot study aimed to virtually apply a pre-existing in-person model to improve clinical support for the growing nursing home population.
- Foley & Lardner LLP June 22, 2023 CMS’ Latest Innovation Model – The Making Care Primary (MCP) Model Includes Focus on Social Determinants of Health On June 8, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new voluntary primary care model, the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model.
- Angus King Newsroom June 22, 2023 Collins, King Join Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined a bipartisan group of 58 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors.
- mhealthintelligence June 22, 2023 Despite Preferences for In-Person Care, Patients Are Open to Telehealth New research indicates that although there is a widespread preference for in-person care, only 10 percent brush off the possibility of using virtual primary care.
- healthleaders June 21, 2023 NEARLY 400 NEW DIAGNOSIS CODES COMING THIS FALL, CMS ANNOUNCES Prepare your revenue cycle teams for several hundred new fiscal year 2024 ICD-10-CM codes now finalized to take effect October 1.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 21, 2023 Hybrid Mobile Program Aims to Assist Opioid Use Disorder Patients A collaborative effort provides two mobile units to assist opioid use disorder patients from underserved Maryland communities through telehealth and in-person care.
- mhealthintelligence June 20, 2023 MedPAC: Lower Telehealth Payments to Pre-Pandemic Facility Rates The congressional agency has recommended returning to pre-pandemic facility rate requirements for telehealth services in a report detailing trends in telehealth use through the PHE.
- HealthcareITNews June 20,2023 The CONNECT for Health Act is reintroduced, again A bipartisan group of 60 senators reintroduced the updated 2023 version of the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act. A companion bill was introduced in the House.
- North Country Telehealth Partnership 6/2/2023 TAKE THE NEW YORK STATE INTERNET ACCESS SURVEY! We at the North Country Telehealth Partnership and North Country Digital Inclusion Coalition want to hear from YOU about your experiences accessing and using the internet to help us close the digital divide in every corner of the state. We encourage you to complete this 10-minute online survey from the ConnectALL Office, available in 12 languages, to ensure that our voices in the North Country are included in the State’s plans.
- mhealthintelligence May 25, 2023 Medicaid Coverage Linked to Rise in Telehealth Use, Healthcare Access Medicaid coverage of telehealth was linked to increases in telehealth use and care access before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but private insurance coverage was not.
- mhealthintelligence May 24, 2023 Virtual interviews with 25 primary care practice leaders revealed a need for solidified guidelines surrounding telehealth visit triage following the public health emergency. New research shows that the odds of initiating addiction treatment via telehealth rose by 38.5 percentage points between 2019 and 2020.
- mhealthintelligence May 24, 2023 Legislation Aims to Support Telehealth Access in Rural Areas A group of representatives introduced new legislation to maintain telehealth access in rural America by making permanent Medicare coverage of virtual care.
- HRSA May 23, 2023 Interstate Licensure Resources A Telehealth.HHS.gov licensure resource shares the latest information on interstate licensure. This resource has the latest guidance on how to practice legally and ethically while encouraging the uptake of licensure models that increase access to health care.
- mhealthintelligence May 23, 2023 Primary Care Leaders Want Clearer Telehealth Triage Guidelines Post-PHE Virtual interviews with 25 primary care practice leaders revealed a need for solidified guidelines surrounding telehealth visit triage following the public health emergency.
- mhealthintelligence May 19, 2023 CCHP: Telehealth Flexibilities Continued in the Spring of 2023 A new report from CCHP found that state-level telehealth flexibilities for reimbursement and provisions continued to evolve in 2023.
- mhealthintelligence May 19, 2023 Legislation Aims to Support Telemental Health Services for Medicare Two senior members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee reintroduced legislation to sustain telemental health services.
- FIERCEHealthcare May 18, 2023 FTC steps up scrutiny of digital health apps with proposed changes to data privacy rule The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is tightening the reins on digital health apps sharing consumers' sensitive medical data with tech companies.
- HealthcareITNews May 18, 2023 Addiction recovery provider sees success with AI-enabled telehealth meds monitoring In two years following 100 new-start opioid use disorder patients, Bill Farr says 94% remained in the medication-assisted treatment program – attrition rates had previously hovered around 54%.
- mhealthintelligence May 18, 2023 CMS: Hospitals Can Continue to Bill for Remote Outpatient Therapies The agency stated that providers can bill for several outpatient therapies, including physical and occupational therapy, provided remotely in patients' homes until the end of the year.
- Foley & Lardner, LLP May 16, 2023 FDA and SAMHSA Issue Joint Statement in Support of Reducing Barriers to Evidence Based Treatments On May 9, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issued a joint statement regarding both agencies’ commitment to providing evidence-based treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD).
- CCHP May 16, 2023 Telehealth Policy Summary Report Today the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is releasing its Summary of state telehealth policy changes for Spring. Additionally, we are also making available a summary chart showing where states stand on many key telehealth policies, as well as an infographic highlighting our key findings. The most current information in CCHP’s online policy finder tool may be exported for each state into a PDF document. Note that the review period for this report was January through March 2023.
- HealthcareITNews May 16, 2023 For Oak Orchard, telehealth relieves shortage of medical, dental and mental health pros The rural health system is in a designated Health Provider Shortage Area. Among many other benefits, virtual care is giving patients access to care they otherwise could not receive without massive travel.
- Telehealth.org May 16, 2023 Telepresence: Self-Viewing in Telehealth Visual Communication During traditional in-person conversations, individuals aren’t usually aware of their facial expressions, body language, or conduct. This changes with visual communication media, such as video chats, where one’s behavior is readily observable during the conversation. This aspect doesn’t seem to go unnoticed, as many video chat users admit they are drawn to watching their own images (O’Gieblyn, 2021).
- FIERCEHealthcare May 16, 2023 As COVID-19 recedes, payers face changed coverage landscape There will never be a return to a pre-pandemic normal in terms of what health insurers, self-insured employers and other payers must cover, but they will in some ways be less burdened as COVID-19 recedes, according to Jeff Levin-Scherz, M.D., the population health leader for health and benefits in North America at Willis Towers Watson.
- FIERCEHealthcare May 16, 2023 Legislators reintroduce bill aimed at easing barriers to virtual mental health care in Medicare A bill reintroduced Tuesday in the House of Representatives aims to address barriers to accessing virtual behavioral and mental health care for Medicare beneficiaries.
- mhealthintelligence May 16, 2023 Telehealth Perceptions Vary Among Black Veterans with Chronic Pain New qualitative research provides insightful details into the mixed opinions of telehealth among Black Veterans battling chronic pain.
- CCHP May 15, 2023 Telehealth Policies and Federally Qualified Health Centers FQHC FACT SHEETS / Spring 2023 Supported through funding from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), in the Fall of 2022 the Center for Connected Health Policy’s (CCHP) Policy Finder tool and accompanying telehealth summary report began including a new category dedicated to telehealth Medicaid fee-for-service policies of federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). CCHP has continued to maintain the FQHC category in its policy finder and has provided updated information and examples of policy trends below for Spring 2023. The focus on Medicaid policies pertaining to FQHCs is driven by the intricate criteria and requirements that FQHCs must adhere to. The category aims to capture this information in a consolidated way to help FQHCs navigate telehealth Medicaid policy across the United States.
- healthleaders May 15, 2023 State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Spring 2023 CMS has an FAQ available for leaders needing to catch up on revenue cycle changes now that the public health emergency (PHE) has ended. The COVID-19 PHE has officially concluded, and to assist providers during this transition, CMS released an FAQ to clarify the end to various waivers and flexibilities affecting the revenue cycle and beyond.
- CCPH May 15, 2023 State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Spring 2023 The Center for Connected Health Policy’s (CCHP) Spring 2023 Summary Report of the state telehealth laws and Medicaid program policies is now available as well as updated information on our online Policy Finder tool.
- mhealthintelligence May 15, 2023 Virtual Medication Abortions Led to High Patient Satisfaction New research showed that patients who participated in medication abortions through telehealth felt highly satisfied and relaxed.
- mhealthintelligence May 15, 2023 Telehealth Use High Among Older LA Medicaid Beneficiaries in 2020 New research indicates that telehealth claims in December 2020 were high among older Medicaid beneficiaries residing in Louisiana.
- healthleaders May 12, 2023 AI MAY BE ON ITS WAY TO YOUR DOCTOR'S OFFICE, BUT IT'S NOT READY TO SEE PATIENTS Few in healthcare believe this latest form of AI is about to take their jobs.
- HealthAffairs May 12, 2023 Future Directions For Delivering Contraceptive Healthcare Services Via Telehealth The recent overturning of Roe v. Wade (1973) by the US Supreme Court poses not only a threat to abortion access but also to a broader range of reproductive health care services—not the least of which is contraception. However, bans on contraception do not eliminate demand for these services. Accordingly, it is critical for health care and policy researchers to understand the new digital landscape of contraceptive care—especially how it intersects with existing disparities.
- mhealthintelligence May 12, 2023 Patients Prefer Telehealth to In-Person Assessments for Cancer Care New research found that telehealth-based cancer care led to higher rates of patient satisfaction with access and provider concern compared to in-person encounters.
- mhealthintelligence May 11, 2023 HHS: How the End of the PHE Will Impact Telehealth Flexibilities With the end of the public health emergency comes changes related to pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities, including a renewed focus on HIPAA compliance and new deadlines for certain exceptions.
- Health Care Law Today/Foley & Lardner, LLP May 10. 2023 The Role of AI in Health Care M&A: Driving Value in a Difficult Market Health care merger and acquisition (M&A) activity reached a significant level in 2022, even if not matching 2021’s record-breaking standard. This reflects the overall economy’s holding pattern in which resources are still being deployed strategically, but not at full throttle. At the same time, prognosticators including Moody’s have predicted that dealmaking may remain high over the next 12 to 18 months. This is due to a combination of factors, including pharmaceutical companies seeking to restock their pipelines in the face of approaching patent cliffs and long-term pricing pressure.
- Health Care Law Today/Foley & Lardner, LLP May 10. 2023 Florida Passes Bill to Allow Telehealth Renewals for Medical Marijuana On May 4, 2023, the Florida Legislature passed HB 387 expanding the use of telehealth for medical marijuana recertification. Once signed by Florida Governor, Ron Desantis, the new law will become effective July 1, 2023.
- HealthcareITNews May 10, 2023 DEA officially extends remote EPCS flexibilities for 6 months The ATA applauded the extension through Nov. 11. Working with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the DEA has also offered a one-year grace period for doctor-patient telemedicine relationships established before that date.
- Healthleaders May 10, 2023 FAQ: REVIEW PATIENT-CENTERED CHANGES FOR THE END OF THE PHE Revenue cycle success is closely tied to the patient experience, so make sure to keep the patient in mind and up-to-date as the PHE ends this week.
- Health Care Law Today/Foley & Lardner, LLP May 10. 2023 FDA’s New Guidance Proposes Flexible Use of AI in Medical Devices On April 3, 2023, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued its much-anticipated draft guidance, "Marketing Submission Recommendations for a Predetermined Change Control Plan for Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-Enabled Device Software Functions" (Draft Guidance).
- Telehealth.org May 9, 2023 Telemedicine Performance Measures (Telehealth KPIS) Issued by American College of Physicians The American College of Physicians (ACP) recently issued a policy paper on telemedicine performance measures for physicians providing clinical care. These recommendations can be of relevance to behavioral professionals seeking to interact with the medical community as allowed through an increasing number of collaborative technologies. The ACP recommendations stress the importance of maintaining the quality of performance measures using more precisely defined key performance indicators (KPIS) used to evaluate telehealth care. The paper, “Performance Measures for Physicians Providing Clinical Care Using Telemedicine: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians,” outlines ways to reduce healthcare gaps. It was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on April 19, 2023.
- mhealthintelligence May 9, 2023 DEA Extends Pandemic-Era Waivers for Remote Prescribing of Controlled Substances The extension of COVID-era waivers for remote prescribing of controlled substances will last another six months, DEA and SAMHSA said.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE May 9, 2023 Here’s what will change when the COVID public health emergency ends The COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) is ending this week, make sure your revenue cycle staff are prepared.
- mhealthintelligence May 8, 2023 Senators Want Telehealth Flexibilities for OUD Drug Permanently Extended A group of US Senators wrote a letter to the DEA asking for a permanent extension of telehealth prescribing flexibilities for buprenorphine following the end of the public health emergency.
- HealthCareITNews May 8, 2023 FirstHealth offers a powerful look at hybrid telemedicine in action Many experts say a combination of in-person care with telehealth is the future of telemedicine. FirstHealth of the Carolinas shows how it's done.
- mhealthintelligence May 5, 2023 Online Module Aims to Educate Stakeholders on Telehealth Implementation An online course from the Medical University of South Carolina provides guidance on telehealth implementation and sustainability to virtual care leaders and their teams.
- mhealthintelligence May 4, 2023 Incentivizing Hybrid Care Can Enhance Fee-for-Service Care Delivery New research shows that implementing the optimal mix of remote, in-person, and specialist services can help improve care quality and fee-for-service care delivery.
- mhealthintelligence May 4, 2023 National Telehealth Use Dropped 6.8% in February National telehealth use declined in February, occupying a lower share of medical claim lines compared to the previous month, new FAIR Health Data indicates.
- CCPH May 3, 2023 CMS Takes Steps to Help Address Digital Health Literacy Last month the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized the “Medicare Program; Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly” (“2024 Policy Changes to MA Program”). Among the many policies listed in this final rule, is a requirement for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to identify enrollees with low digital health literacy and determine how they will be addressing that need.
- FIERCE Healthcare May 3, 2023 Hey Jane gets covered: Telemedicine abortion provider inks contracts with Blues plans Hey Jane is now accepting insurance, marking what the company says is a first for telemedicine abortion providers and a pivotal move to expand access to the service.
- mhealthintelligence May 3, 2023 DEA to Delay Limitations on Virtual Prescribing of Controlled Substances The agency has submitted a temporary extension for flexibilities that allow providers to prescribe controlled substances via telehealth without a prior in-person medical exam.
- mhealthintelligence May 3, 2023 7 Projects to Develop New Digital Health Applications Gain Funding Seven seed grants from the University of Utah Health's Digital Health Initiative aim to support the development of digital health applications in clinical practices.
- mhealthintelligence May 2, 2023 HHS-OIG Releases Toolkit for Assessing Telehealth Billing Risks The new toolkit is intended to help Medicare Advantage plan sponsors, private health plans, and other stakeholders examine telehealth claims, identify integrity risks, and implement safeguards.
- mhealthintelligence May 2, 2023 New Wearable Technology Aims to Support Heart Disease Monitoring Texas researchers have developed a wearable medical device in the form of an electronic tattoo for continuous heart disease monitoring.
- HealthcareITNews May 2, 2023 AHRQ program seeks provider organizations to help improve hybrid telehealth The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality is recruiting providers to participate in a new effort to ensure safety when diagnosing cancer via virtual care. The results will also help shape approaches to other diseases.
- mhealthintelligence May 1, 2023 Growing Hospital-at-Home Services Indicate Healthcare Transformation Due to health systems' capacity issues and struggles with high costs, hospital-at-home services are growing more popular and producing patient benefits, new research shows.
- HealthcareITNews May 1, 2023 Sneak peek: New EY survey explores changing consumer telehealth preferences The firm's global health leader speaks with Healthcare IT News about hybrid care, digital transformation, big data, generative AI and smart technology.
- Healthleaders May 1, 2023 ASSESSING THE EVOLUTION OF REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING PROGRAMS Healthcare organizations across the country are launching RPM programs aimed at monitoring specific patient populations outside the hospital.
- mHealthIntelligence April 28, 2023 Most Physicians Find Video Telehealth Quality Inferior to In-Person Care Though a majority of physicians believe that video visits were a boon during the pandemic, more than half find virtual care quality lacking and want to return to in-person care, survey results show.
- AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine April, 2023 Could New AMA Telemedicine Codes Impact Parity? Plus...More Federal and State Policy Updates Is your practice interested in improving the cancer diagnostic process in the telemedicine and hybrid environments? AHRQ is recruiting practices for a free 18-month program to improve diagnostic verification, timeliness, and communication with patients. Practices will receive training and one-on-one expert coaching to implement sustainable improvements to close the loop at critical points in the cancer diagnostic process, which has the potential to prevent harm associated with missed or delayed diagnoses. Participants will also be eligible for CEUs, CMEs, and ABIM MOC points. Learn more and sign up for an upcoming informational webinar on May 8, 18, or 24th.
- mHealthIntelligence April 27, 2023 Expanded Telehealth Access Can Cut Millions in Rural Health Costs Widening telehealth access through broadband improvements in 10 counties in the South could result in nearly $43 million in healthcare cost savings, a new report shows.
- mHealthIntelligence April 26, 2023 Viewpoint: Telehealth Access for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment is Needed A new opinion piece in Health Affairs described the need for telehealth access to treat opioid use disorder and the legislation making this difficult.
- healthleaders April 26, 2023 THE FUTURE OF REMOTE PATIENT MONITORING HINGES ON REIMBURSEMENT Remote patient monitoring can help providers extend care for patients in underserved areas and improve outcomes, but only if it’s a reimbursable service.
- mHealthIntelligence April 26, 2023 UR Medicine Expands Telestroke, Remote Neuro Care in NY The University of Rochester Medical Center announced an extension of remote acute and inpatient neurological care, including its telestroke program, to 16 hospitals in New York.
- CCPH April 25, 2023 Health Data Privacy & Telehealth With the rise of telehealth utilization in response to COVID-19 there has also been an increased interest in how telehealth vendors and practitioners protect and use health data. This has led to policymakers and regulators proposing or implementing policies to address the type of information collected, how it’s used, and what needs to be disclosed to the patients. While part of this discussion is related to the concerns over privacy and protection of reproductive health information, several recent actions taken by federal agencies have focused on the use of collected data for marketing purposes.
- FIERCEHealthcare April 24, 2023 Home care industry touts bipartisan bill to expand Medicare in-home benefits, reimbursement Healthcare providers and tech companies with a stake in home health have coalesced around bipartisan legislation introduced last week that would shift care away from the hospital to patients' living rooms and bedrooms.
- mHealthIntelligence April 24, 2023 CHI Saint Joseph Hospital Pilots Virtual Nursing to Address Shortages The hospital implemented virtual nursing technology to add to care teams and alleviate some of the workplace burdens in-house clinicians face.
- healthleaders April 24, 2023 AMAZON & 3M WILL USE GENERATIVE AI TO EASE DOCUMENTATION FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS Late last week, two of the world's most famous companies, Amazon and 3M, announced a bold partnership aimed at solving one of the most critical pain points for healthcare providers: clinical documentation.
- mHealthIntelligence April 24, 2023 Pilot Program Targets Maternal Health Disparities Using Virtual Tracking The program launched by Aetna Better of Maryland and maternal health provider Mae will use virtual tracking and doulas to reduce maternal health disparities among Black women.
- AP News April 23, 2023 Dying patients protest looming telehealth crackdown At age 93, struggling with the effects of a stroke, heart failure and recurrent cancer, Teri Sheridan was ready to end her life using New Jersey’s law that allows medically assisted suicide — but she was bedbound, too sick to travel.
- mHealthIntelligence April 21, 2023 Teledoc Health Expands Weight, Prediabetes Provider-Based Care New provider-based care offerings from Teladoc Health aim to help members lose weight as well as prevent and manage diabetes by optimizing medications.
- mHealthIntelligence April 20, 2023 Providence Launches Remote Patient Monitoring Program for Chronic Care Providence has struck a new partnership with Cadence aimed at improving care quality and access through remote patient monitoring and virtual care resources.
- Telehealth.org April 20, 2023 Access to Abortion Pills via Telehealth Abortion Services Whether you view the controversy surrounding abortion as a legal issue, a religious issue, a gender issue, a pharmaceutical issue, or a human rights issue, most people have clear, if not opposing, opinions. The success of several telehealth abortion services has increased access to abortion pills over state and international borders, raising questions that fuel the fire.
- HealthAffairs April 19, 2023 HIMSS23: Stanford Health Care finding success with inpatient telehealth The COVID-19 pandemic inspired Stanford to upgrade and update its technology and workflows to allow for telehealth at the bedside.
- HealthAffairs April 19, 2023 Maintaining Telehealth Care For Opioid Use Disorder Is Critical Fueled by fentanyl, annual deaths from opioid-involved overdose increased dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic, continuing an exponential rise. Widespread counterfeiting and adulteration of other substances with fentanyl has led to additional unprecedented poisonings and harm. To protect themselves from this lethal illicit drug supply, millions of Americans need immediate access to—and ongoing treatment with—medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 19, 2023 New Report Details Recommendations for Telehealth Performance Measures A new American College of Physicians report provides information on the future of telehealth use and suggestions for telehealth quality performance measurement.
- healthleaders April 18, 2023 PC DOCS WANT BETTER TELEHEALTH METRICS The ACP this week published a policy paper that recommends new evidence-based recommendations for audio and video telehealth.
- CCHP April 18, 2023 TRENDS IN FEDRAL TELEHEALTH LEGISLATION Trends in federal telehealth legislation in 2023 thus far have largely been a response to upcoming changes to policies given the impending end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), which is set to end on May 11, 2023, and some of the flexibilities afforded during that time being rolled back.
- HealthcareITNews April 17, 2023 Technology can reduce providers' mental healthcare challenges John MacKenzie, clinical program manager and behavioral health specialist at CommonSpirit Telehealth Network, spoke at HIMSS23 on using technology to support both patients' and clinicians' behavioral health.
- HealthcareITNews April 17, 2023 Telepsychiatry will be key, Geisinger exec says Benjamin Gonzales, operations manager II, virtual care, at the powerhouse health system, shares his expertise and expectations at the HIMSS23 gathering.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 17, 2023 Telehealth Supports Opioid Use Disorder Patient Retention in Treatment New research indicates that telehealth-based medication-assisted resources were an effective method of care for opioid use disorder patients, boosting retention rates in treatment programs.
- Telehealth.org April 13, 2023 New Bill Seeks to Increase Telehealth Use By Eliminating Deductibles in Health Savings Accounts On March 28, six US Senators and Congressional representatives proposed a new bill to increase telehealth use through the “Telehealth Expansion Act.”
- Telehealth.org April 13, 2023 Telehealth Informed Consent: Best Practices & Competencies While licensed professionals are required to comply with all applicable telehealth laws and regulations, telehealth informed consent (IC) is by far the most useful for protecting all parties from legal entanglements.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 12, 2023 How PCP Perception of Telehealth in US Compares to Other Countries New survey results show that more US primary care physicians view telehealth as an effective tool in addressing behavioral healthcare than their peers in other high-income countries.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 12, 2023 Audio-Only Telehealth Used More Than Video Visits in Safety Net Clinics New research shows that although audio-only telehealth is past its pandemic peak, it was used more than video-based telehealth for behavioral health and primary care in safety net settings in 2022.
- CCHP April 11, 2023 Could New AMA Telemedicine Codes Impact Parity? Plus...More Federal and State Policy Updates The American Medical Association (AMA) Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Editorial Panel has released their CPT Editorial Summary of Panel Actions, detailing decisions from their annual meeting that took place in February. The summary includes acceptance of 17 new office visit codes (9X075-9X091) that are specifically for telemedicine situations effective January 2025.
- Healthleaders April 11, 2023 RAND STUDY FINDS CONTINUING VALUE IN AUDIO-ONLY TELEHEALTH SERVICES The study found that California FQHCs were still conducting 20% of primary care visits and 40% of behavioral care visits by telephone or audio-only computer platform.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 11, 2023 Federal Funding to Boost Telehealth Services for Vulnerable Groups in NY Federal funding will help expand telehealth services for numerous underserved groups in Western New York. US Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) has secured $2 million in the federal 2023 budget to...
- HEALTH IT SECURITY April 11, 2023 Pandemic-Era Telehealth Rules Set to Expire in May, Shifting HIPAA Compliance Obligations When the public health emergency ends on May 11, OCR’s four Notifications of Enforcement Discretion under HIPAA will also expire, including loosened telehealth requirements.
- Foley & Lardner LLP April 10, 2023 What FQHCs Need to Know About Telehealth After the PHE On January 30, 2023, the Biden Administration announced its intent to end the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) on May 11, 2023. For Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), flexibilities offered under the PHE expanded opportunities to be paid for telehealth services, particularly for Medicare patients. Any FQHC relying on PHE flexibilities should begin preparing for the end of the PHE to ensure its service offerings are in compliance with post-pandemic requirements.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 10, 2023 Program Aims to Provide School-Based, Virtual Behavioral Healthcare MCD Global Health began an effort to provide elementary through high school students with virtual behavioral healthcare resources.
- voanews.com April 9, 2023 Telemedicine Still Going Strong as US COVID Fears Fade During the coronavirus pandemic, telemedicine became a virtual phenomenon. As people remained in their homes during the pandemic, they began chatting with their doctors over the phone or video platforms on subjects such as chronic disease management, ongoing medical support, mental health issues and specialty care.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 7, 2023 Remote Patient Monitoring Led to Reductions in Blood Pressure New research showed that treating high blood pressure and cholesterol with remote patient monitoring reduced heart disease and stroke risk.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 7, 2023 Collaboration Aims to Assist Veterans Through Virtual Reality Solutions The VA entered a collaboration to compose virtual reality solutions to provide care related to orthopedics, neurorehabilitation, and chronic issues.
- HEALTHCARE April 6, 2023 CMS cracks down on MA coverage denials and misleading ads in final rule Both hospital and payer groups came out in support of the rule finalized Wednesday, finding common ground in the need to streamline prior authorization.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 05, 2023 Preference for Future Telehealth Use Does Not Exceed That of In-Person Care New survey data showed that despite relative satisfaction with telehealth, patients and physicians prefer in-person care in the future.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 05, 2023 Telehealth Use Increased by 7.3% Nationally in January Data from FAIR Health indicates that national telehealth use rose in January, occupying a larger share of medical claim lines compared to the month prior.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 05, 2023 Telehealth Use Declines Across Primary Care Specialties Recent research shows that telehealth usage has dropped among primary care specialties, especially among physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and internal medicine physicians.
- HEALTHCAREDIVE April 5, 2023 Telehealth use rose for third straight month in January among privately insured Telehealth visits rose in popularity for the third straight month in January, accounting for 5.9% of all medical claim lines, an increase from 5.5% in December, according to Fair Health’s monthly telehealth tracker.
- Foley & Lardner LLP April 4, 2023 COVID-19 Related Medical Devices: FDA Finalizes Transition Plan Guidance On March 27, 2023, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) released two final guidance documents to assist with transitioning medical devices: (i) that were subject to certain enforcement policies issued during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE), and (ii) that were issued emergency use authorizations (EUAs). These guidance documents finalize the corresponding draft guidance documents that were issued on December 23, 2021.
- CCHP April 4, 2023 VDOT FOR TRETMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS (FINALLY) GETS RECOMMENDED BY THE CDC In 2015 with funding from the California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) and working with researchers at the University of California, San Diego, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) began a study on the use of synchronous video to provide direct observational therapy (DOT) for the treatment of tuberculosis (TB).
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 04, 2023 Digital Divide Limits Telehealth Use in Rural Areas New research shows that the digital divide, such as lack of access to the internet and technology, likely exacerbates telehealth access disparities, mainly in rural areas.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 3, 2023 Social Workers Can Expand Telehealth Access for Stroke Survivors New research described various resources for supporting stroke survivors who struggle to receive care through telehealth, including social workers and the use of cellular devices.
- Foley & Lardner LLP April 3, 2023 FDA Publishes Framework for Digital Health Technologies in Clinical Trials On March 23, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a framework to guide regulatory decision-making on the use of digital health technologies (DHT) in clinical drug trials.
- mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE April 3, 2023 Telehealth Use Dropped Significantly Between 2020 and 2021 A report described that despite the gradual increase in telehealth use over the last several years, it fell 76 percent between 2020 and 2021.
- healthleaders April 3, 2023 States Step In as Telehealth and Clinic Patients Get Blindsided by Hospital Fees Hospitals argue that facility fees are needed to pay for staff and overhead expenses, particularly when hospitals don’t employ their own physicians. But consumer advocates say there’s no reason hospitals should charge more than independent clinics for the same services.
- AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine April, 2023 Could New AMA Telemedicine Codes Impact Parity? Plus...More Federal and State Policy Updates Is your practice interested in improving the cancer diagnostic process in the telemedicine and hybrid environments? AHRQ is recruiting practices for a free 18-month program to improve diagnostic verification, timeliness, and communication with patients. Practices will receive training and one-on-one expert coaching to implement sustainable improvements to close the loop at critical points in the cancer diagnostic process, which has the potential to prevent harm associated with missed or delayed diagnoses. Participants will also be eligible for CEUs, CMEs, and ABIM MOC points. Learn more and sign up for an upcoming informational webinar on May 8, 18, or 24th.
- Healthleaders March 31, 2023 Telehealth Lessened Overdose Risk Among Patients with Opioid Use Disorder The uptake of telehealth services led to a reduced risk of fatal drug overdose for Medicare patients with opioid use disorder, new data shows.
- Healthleaders March 31, 2023 'TSUNAMI OF CRITICISM' FOLLOWS DEA'S PROPOSED TELEMEDICINE PRESCRIBING RULES Several groups have issued critical reviews of the DEA's proposed revision of rules regarding telemedicine prescriptions of controlled substances. Some say the revision will imperil thousands of patients.
- Foley & Lardner LLP March 30, 2023 The Future of the 340B Program: 2023 Key Decisions Critical decisions are pending before courts and legislators in 2023 that promise to shape the future of the 340B Drug Pricing Program (340B Program), which provides discounts on outpatient drugs for certain health care providers, referred to as “covered entities.” The resolution of these issues will have an enormous financial impact on the health care industry, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, 340B hospitals, and federal grantees.
- HealthcareITNews March 30, 2023 No registry for telemedicine providers is a missed opportunity, says ATA In response to the DEA, ATA stresses telehealth's efficacy in reaching previously unreachable populations, details the operational complications and confusion that will ensue and makes requests to ease provider burdens.
- Telehealth.org March 29, 2023 Practicing Telehealth Across State Lines: Spring 2023 Update Practitioners of all healthcare professions will be impacted by the upcoming end of the public health emergency (PHE). Behavioral health professionals stand out as the biggest winners, with more recent legislative action in their favor than any other professional group, particularly with regard to practicing telehealth and telemedicine across state lines. This article answers common questions and summarizes some of the key legal issues involved.
- Foley & Lardner LLP March 29, 2023 2023 Telemedicine & Digital Health Trends Medicare telehealth post-Public Health Emergency (PHE): With the COVID-19 PHE concluding on May 11, 2023, many of the telehealth flexibilities the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented during the PHE will sunset at varying times.