Telehealth News
- Healthcare IT News Jan 13, 2025 HHS publishes AI Strategic Plan, with guidance for healthcare, public health, human services The framework explores ways to spur innovation and adoption, enable more trustworthy model development, promote access and foster AI-
- Xtelligent Virtual Healthcare Jan 3, 2025 Hospital-at-home model effective for heart failure patients Not only did a majority of eligible hear failure patients opt to participate in Cleveland Clinic’s hospital-at-home program, but the participants demonstrated significant improvements in guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) use, comparable to in-hospital care, new research
- Healthcare IT News Jan 2, 2025 Remote patient monitoring will boost CHF and GLP-1 care in 2025 The promise of remote patient monitoring is showing itself in more and more telemedicine use cases, with huge potential for day-to-day wellness, management of chronic conditions and the promo
- xtelligent Jan 2, 2025 HHS proposes HIPPA Security Rule changes The proposed HIPAA Security Rule updates provide specific instructions for safeguarding ePHI, preventing data breaches and maintaining compliance. /firstli
- FIERCEHealthcare Jan 2, 2025 Healthcare conferences to put on your calendar for 2025 Looking for healthcare events in 2025? We rounded up some of the top conferences, both virtual and live, that are on the calendar. This list will continue to be
- JDSUPRA Dec 30, 2024 Telehealth Services Safe Harbor for High Deductible Health Plans Expires December 31, 2024 On December 21, 2024, President Biden signed into law the American Relief Act, 2025 (2025 Relief Act), which funds the federal government through March 14, 2025, and provides certain disaster relief provisions and other economic assistance. However, many important health-related provisions that may impact health pla
- HealthcareITNews Dec 26, 2024 What will AI do for telemedicine in 2025? More than you might think Computer vision and sensor integration, evolution in virtual specialty care and other innovations are transcending the hype cycle and showing resul
- JDSUPRA Dec 24, 2024 Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities Get a Three-Month Lifeline After much uncertainty, Congress has extended many Medicare telehealth flexibilities through March 31, 2025, in its end-of-year appropriations bill. However, several important flexibilities, such as first-dollar coverage of telehealth services under high deductible health plans (HDHPs) and health savings accounts (HSAs), will expire
- HEALTHCAREDIVE Dec 23, 2024 Biden signs funding bill extending telehealth flexibilities, but no relief for doctors — or PBM reform Physician groups slammed Congress for allowing a
- xtelligent Dec 23, 2024 Telehealth, hospital-at-home waivers extended for 90 days Telehealth and AHCAH waivers have been extended through March 2025, but the lack of a long-term solution has prompted calls for permanent virtual care reforms. /firstline><
- FIERCE Healthcare Dec 18, 2024 Stopgap funding bill includes sweeping PBM reform, preserves telehealth flexibilities Lawmakers Tuesday night released the full text of a bipartis
- xtelligent Dec 18, 2024 Medication management, follow-ups top telehealth use cases A new survey finds U.S. physicians and patients see value in telehealth access, citing medication management and follow-up visits as the most common reasons for te
- FIERCE Healthcare Dec 18, 2024 2025 outlook: What's next for AI scribes and virtual care In 2025, the healthcare industry will expect more out of artificial intelligence. Vendors will push AI further, healthcare delivery systems will hold AI to higher account and the line between telehealth and AI will blur. This was the resounding perspective from health tech founders that are working to stay on the cutting edge of healthcare.
- JDSUPRA Dec 18, 2024 Update: Telehealth “Cliff” Looming at End of 2024 As 2024 comes to a close, the telehealth space continues to be uncharted territory. When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the ability to deliver telehealth expanded as providers sought to provide quality care unrestricted by physical, in-person requirements. Now, the issue has shifted to the other side of the telemedicine coin: Following this rapid expansion, facilitated by a plethora of telemedicine flexibilities set forth in state and federal law, is Congress ready to pass laws that make these flexibilities
- xtelligent Dec 13, 2024 What is virtual nursing, and why is it on the rise? Virtual nursing facilitated through telehealth and RPM tools can help address nursing shortages and burnout by supporting bedside nurses with various tasks. /f
- xtelligent Dec 6, 2024 Virtual acute care at home cuts length of hospital stay A study shows that an at-home care model incorporating virtual care, remote patient monitoring and urgent care was linked to shorter hospital stays than standard inpatient care. /firstline><
- healthleaders Oct 30, 2024 New Reimbursement Rules Give RPM Providers a Much-Needed Win KEY TAKEAWAYS-CMS has reimbursed for remote patient monitoring programs since 2019, though coverage is limited. Healthcare providers have lobbied to increase CPT codes for RPM reimbursement, as well as for less restrictive rules that limit how, when and where they can collect data. A recent decision from the AMA’s CPT panel eliminates the need for providers to collect data from RPM devices at least 16 of every 30 days.
- PHTI: Some digital hypertension tools effective in reducing BP Xtelligent Virtual Healthcare Oct 30, 2024 A report by PHTI finds that digital hypertension tools using a medication management approach effectively reduced blood pressure and offset initial care costs.
- CCHP Oct 29, 2024 Trending Telehealth Research-HHS Research Recaps and Highlights The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) telehealth website offers a number of resources for patients and providers looking to utilize services via telehealth. The website also offers funding opportunities related to telehealth and broadband programs, as well as a research section
- HealthcareITNews Oct 28, 2024 How FirstHealth is improving outcomes with observation at home The strategy has had a big impact on patient access, bed capacity, and heart failure and all-cause readmissions – not to mention appreciation of patients and family thankful to receive care safely at home instead of having to be admitted to the hospital.
- Xtelligent Virtual Healthcare Oct 24, 2024 Behind the scenes of telehealth standards development Leaders from NCQA and URAC discuss the development of telehealth standards to ensure high-quality virtual care and provide guidance on new technologies like AI.
- HealthcareITNews Oct 23, 2024 Zoom plans new genAI capabilities for healthcare providers Its telehealth technology will use the Suki artificial intelligence platform to generate clinical notes to help reduce documentation burden.
- healthcareITNews Oct 23, 202 Zoom plans new genAI capabilities for healthcare providers Its telehealth technology will use the Suki artificial intelligence platform to generate clinical notes to help reduce documentation burden.
- CCHP Oct 23, 2024 Recent Reports Highlight Policy Recommendations Related To Remote Patient Monitoring OIG) released a new report regarding remote patient monitoring (RPM), which describes existing federal coverage policies and recent utilization rates, as well as recommending additional oversight of the telehealth modality’s use within the Medicare program. In particular, OIG’s review sought to understand how RPM, which is the collection and transmission of health data in a patient’s home to assist providers in managing a patient’s condition, is being used by Medicare patients and billed by Medicare providers. OIG found a dramatic increase in RPM use over the past few years and made a number of recommendations to ensure sufficient oversight and billing of RPM services going forward.
- HealthcareITNews Oct 22, 2024 RPM, enabled with AI, can improve congestive heart failure care A nurse remote patient monitoring expert explains why she's seeing more providers looking for new tools to help manage CHF – and how advancements in virtual care are allowing more patients to be cared for at home.
- Foley & Lardner LLP Oct 17, 2024 New DEA Rule Expected to Extend Controlled Substance Telemedicine Prescribing Flexibilities Through 2025 After considerable pressure from both Congress and the White House, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) submitted a proposed rule regarding flexibilities on telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances on October 11, 2024. Specifics of the proposed rule are not yet available, but we anticipate the rule will extend the current DEA telemedicine prescribing flexibilities for at least one more year, possibly two. The proposed rule is expected to be released and available for public review before the end of the year and should extend both the in-person exam waiver and the state-by-state DEA registration waiver.
- HealthcareITNews Oct 16, 2024 As year-end deadline looms, Congress again calls on DEA to extend telehealth flexibilities Bipartisan lawmakers say a temporary extension isn't adequate, and they're concerned that the draft proposal is "misaligned with Congressional intent" with regard to a registry for the prescribing of controlled substances via telemedicine.
- CCHP Oct 15, 2024 Telehealth and Court Cases Continued: Recent Ruling Additionally Highlights Legal Implications Relevant to Telehealth Policy A recent court decision once again highlights the ability for legal rulings to impact telehealth policy, consistent with the focus of CCHP’s recent Telehealth and Court Cases webinar series, and raises interesting policy questions that have potentially far-reaching implications.
- FIERCEHealthcare Oct 15, 2024 DEA sends 3rd temporary extension of telemedicine prescribing rules to White House The Drug Enforcement Administration is poised to extend pandemic-era telehealth prescribing rules for a third time.
- HealthcareITNews Oct 14, 2024 Arizona agency's omnichannel approach to home health includes telehealth and RPM MD Home Health CEO explains why the organization embraced the four-pronged, technology-infused style of home health and how the approach should streamline delivery and improve patient outcomes.
- STATnews Oct 10, 2024 Frustrated telehealth providers say their businesses face ‘doom and gloom’ They blame DEA’s failure to enact new rules governing the prescription of controlled substances.
- Xtelligent Virtual Healthcare Oct 10, 2024 Palliative care via telehealth on par with in-person care Early palliative care provided via telehealth resulted in quality-of-life scores similar to those of in-person palliative care among patients with advanced lung cancer, according to new research published in JAMA.
- CCHP Oct 8, 2024 DEA RULES, FDA GUIDANCE, AND AL’S GROWING IMPACT ON HEALTHCARE Awaiting DEA Telemedicine Rules as Studies Highlight Telehealth’s Role in Treating Opioid Use Disorder
- HealthcareITNews Oct 7, 2024 CMS releases Acute Hospital Care at Home study The report compares cost, care, patient experience and more to brick-and-mortar care, ahead of the expiratio
- HealthcareITNews Oct 7, 2024 Can AI power progress with remote patient monitoring technology? An expert discusses the combination of RPM and artificial intelligence, with examples of how tools are being developed and used today to improve patient access a
- HEALTHCAREDIVE Oct 3, 2024 Lawmakers urge Biden administration to extend telehealth prescribing flexibilities for opioid use disorder A bipartisan group of two dozen representatives pushed officials to preserve the pandemic-era prescribing changes for buprenorphine, arguing telehealth increases access
- FIERCEHealthcare Oct 1,2024 At-home hospital care popular with patients and clinicians, but data backing quality, costs are limited, CMS finds Hospital programs providing at-home acute care are widely appreciated by patients and clinicians but still don’t have a bulletproof argument in respect to quality and costs as compared to a brick-and-mortal inpatient stay, according to a Centers for Medic
- CCHP Oct 1, 2024 New Health Affairs Study Examines Which Providers are Utilizing Telehealth the Most With the Medicare temporary telehealth waivers set to expire at the end of this year, Congress continues to work on deciding whether the waivers will be extended, modified or allowed to expire with the current end date. In a new study published by Health Affairs (account or purchase of article required to access), 2022 Medicare fee-for-service
- JDSUPRA August 19, 2024 Trending in Telehealth: July 30 – August 12, 2024 Trending in Telehealth highlights state legislative and regulatory developments that impact the healthcare providers, telehealth and digital health companies, pharmacists and technology companies that deliver and facilitate the delivery of virtual care.
- HealthcareITNews August 19, 2024 AI-powered RPM boosts care for chronic conditions while saving costs Artificial intelligence is helping improve remote patient monitoring technology, with especially promising applications focused on diabetes. One CEO discusses the quality and cost-efficiency promise of "the next generation of remote care."
- JDSUPRA August 16, 2024 CMS Rules Propose Changes Regarding the Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program, Refundable Drugs, Skin Supplements and More; Comments Due September 9 On July 31, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (“CMS”) published its mammoth proposed rule entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Calendar Year 2025 Payment Policies under the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Changes to Part B Payment and Coverage Policies; Medicare Shared Savings Program Requirements; Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program; and Medicare Overpayments” (“CY25 PFS Proposed Rule”).
- HealthcareITNews August 16, 2024 Mental health provider drastically reduces chart audit time with help from AI Cerebral has decreased time spent on audits by 78% and has seen an even bigger improvement in meeting critical insurance criteria. The technology offers precise data feedback that could be missed in manual auditing, an exec says.
- HealthcareITNews August 14, 2024 Digital intake and scheduling scores big results for Posterity Health With the digital intake process, 70% of patients now complete their intake forms within 10 minutes. This efficiency has saved staff approximately 10 minutes per appointment, allowing them to focus more on patient care rather than paperwork.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare August 14, 2024 Telehealth use spikes with dementia patients during pandemic Telehealth use surged among dementia patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, with various social determinants influencing utilization, per recent research.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare August 12, 2024 Deploying telehealth for equitable hypertension management Massachusetts public health officials detail the implementation of a telehealth-based hypertension management program that improves outcomes among underserved groups.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare August 8, 2024 Employing telehealth to boost maternal health equity UC Davis Health is using telehealth to improve postpartum visit attendance among Black people, thereby enhancing maternal health equity and closing care gaps.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare August 7, 2024 Lack of telehealth services hurts rural hospital finances Rural hospitals are losing patients to urban hospitals that provide telehealth, resulting in negative financial repercussions, a new study shows.
- HealthcareITNews August 6, 2024 The growing practice of prescribing medical devices via telemedicine UpScriptHealth specializes in this approach to virtual care, including for female pelvic health and opioid withdrawal symptoms. Its founder talks about how this form of telehealth can boost outcomes and help fill gaps caused by specialist shortages.
- TechTarget/xtelligent Virtual Healthcare August 1, 2024 Telehealth offsets primary care visit declines but not equally Telehealth's ability to offset primary care visit declines varied across patient characteristics, with some groups still experiencing large drops in visit volumes.
- CCHP July 30, 2024 Interstate Licensure Compacts: Updates & Overview On July 16, 2024, at the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) National Telehealth Conference, a new investment into the multi-state social work licensure compact was announced.
- TechTarget July 30, 2024 GP digital tools could cause patients harm, says report Investigation by the Health Services Safety Investigations Body finds some online tools used in general practices could cause risk to patient safety and impact GP workload.
- TechTarget July 29, 2024 NIH study reveals pitfalls of AI in clinical decision-making GPT-4V scored highly on the 'New England Journal of Medicine's' Image Challenge, but made mistakes when tasked with explaining its reasoning and describing medical images.
- Foley & Lardner LLP July 29, 2024 Substance Use Disorder Treatment Services: 2025 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Would Expand Access and Medicare Coverage On July 10, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule (Proposed Rule) for the calendar year 2025. The Proposed Rule would implement certain provisions of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act) and proposes new payment policies relating to Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment. Since enactment of the SUPPORT Act in 2018, CMS has consistently implemented reforms and added covered substance use disorder (SUD) treatment services through its annual update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.
- TechTarget July 25, 2024 HHS reorganizes for coordination across health data policy The HHS reorganization aims to improve coordination for strategy and policy across health data, cybersecurity, AI and technology as digital health transformation progresses.
- CCHP July 23, 2024 POS 10 Non-Facility Rate: Payment & Modifiers Clarification Given the robust amount of content provided in the CCHP newsletter last week (July 16, 2024 edition), some readers may have missed a Change Request to the CMS Manual System issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in June that went into effect July 8, 2024. Change Request 13582, Billing and Payment for Telehealth Services with Place of Service (POS) 10 was directed at the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MAC).