Telehealth
Many Groups Call on Congress to Expand Telehealth Flexibilities
More than 400 advocacy groups are calling for Congress to act quickly to permanently expand flexibilities for telehealth that could go away after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency expected to run through 2021. The 430 groups sent a letter to congressional leadership underscoring the urgency for action now amid concerns from providers that expanded […]
The American Telemedicine Association Again Leads the Industry Commenting on Medicare Updates to Telehealth Policy
Faegre Drinker professionals Sarah-Lloyd Stevenson, Megan Herber, Nisha Quasba and Libby Baney provide ongoing support to the American Telemedicine Association’s (ATA) policy work. This month, the comment period for the Calendar Year 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (CY 2022 PFS) will close, marking an important regulatory step in how providers will be reimbursed for health care services next […]
13 numbers that show how much telehealth visits cost your hospital
Researchers from Ann Arbor-based Michigan Medicine conducted a study in August to determine if the costs hospitals pay for telehealth visits differ from in-person visits. Here are 13 numbers that demonstrate their findings: Physicians spent more face-to-face time in virtual visits than in-person visits. Physicians, on average, spent 13.8 minutes in a virtual visit compared to 10.2 minutes when the visit […]
Senators, FCC Official Parse Ties Between Telehealth, Affordable Broadband
Senators and healthcare IT experts raised concerns this week that many in the United States cannot benefit from the recent boom in telehealth services because of a lack of affordable high-speed internet access across the country. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed so much about how people live their lives, but nothing changed so fundamentally as […]
Can Remote Patient Monitoring Improve Post-Surgical Care and Recovery?
A study conducted in Canada has found that a remote patient monitoring platform can be used to facilitate care for patients who’ve been discharged from a hospital after non-elective surgery. By Eric Wicklund October 01, 2021 – A recent study conducted at several Canadian hospitals finds that remote patient monitoring can be used to help patients recover at […]
FCC Announces Latest Awards From COVID-19 Telehealth Program
More than 70 healthcare organizations will receive funding from the Federal Communications Commission’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program for projects aimed at expanding connected health platforms to improve access to care during the pandemic. By Eric Wicklund September 30, 2021 – More than 70 healthcare organizations will received federal funds for new connected health projects through the Federal Communications Commission’s […]
Docs press CMS for permanent telehealth flexibility, relief from pay cuts in fee schedule comments
Several doctor groups are pressing the Biden administration to not just extend Medicare telehealth reimbursement flexibilities through 2023 but to be made permanent. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services proposed in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to extend telehealth flexibilities through 2023 instead of through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which is expected […]
HRSA Health Centers to Get $1B for Telehealth, Other Upgrades
The Biden Administration is awarding nearly $1 billion in American Rescue Plan funding through the HRSA to about 1,300 health centers across the country for capital improvements, including telehealth expansion. By Eric Wicklund September 28, 2021 – The Biden Administration is shelling out almost $1 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to health centers in every state to […]
Telehealth Groups Pressure CMS to Expand Coverage in 2022 Physician Fee Schedule
Several organizations have asked CMS to revise its proposed 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to permanently expand Medicare coverage for telehealth. By Eric Wicklund September 20, 2021 – Telehealth advocates are asking the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to amend the proposed 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to permanently extend emergency measures on telehealth access and coverage that were […]
CMS Faces a Call to Improve Telehealth Coverage for Rural Health Providers
A letter signed by 20 organizations calls on the agency to expand telehealth coverage for mental health and other services delivered through critical access hospitals, federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. By Eric Wicklund September 27, 2021 – Several organizations are making an extra effort to lobby for expanded telehealth coverage for rural healthcare providers beyond […]
VA Plans $1B Expansion of Remote Patient Monitoring Platform
The Department of Veterans Affairs is soliciting bids for four remote patient monitoring projects that could greatly expand the agency’s ability to treat veterans in their own homes. By Eric Wicklund September 20, 2021 – The Department of Veterans Affairs is looking to launch a massive expansion of its remote patient monitoring program to expand care and treatment […]
Telecare may boost homebound seniors’ medication adherence according to JAMA study
Researchers said telecare programs could allow homebound older adults to maintain a closer connection with healthcare providers. By Emily Olsen September 13, 2021 01:53 pm Homebound older adults who participated in a telecare program for three months had improved medication adherence and quality of life, according to a study published in JAMA Network Open. TOPLINE DATA Researchers […]
Telehealth May Improve Outcomes for Children with Chronic Conditions
There is a high probability that using telehealth to treat children with chronic conditions can improve patient outcomes and reduce health system costs, University of Texas researchers found. By Victoria Bailey September 23, 2021 – Using telehealth to deliver comprehensive care for children with chronic conditions is likely to reduce hospital and emergency department visits, improve patient outcomes, […]
Remote patient monitoring use is on the rise, but reimbursement needs to catch up
The reimbursement model for remote patient monitoring needs to evolve as it may be holding providers back from investing in these programs, according to panelists at the MedCity INVEST Digital Health conference. Key issues with the structure as it stands now include the fact that there are too many gray areas that result in claims […]