Clinicians are more likely to schedule a telehealth follow-up if they have immediate access to patient data. By Christopher Jason October 19, 2020 – Clinicians with access to a shared inpatient-outpatient EHR were more likely to schedule a telehealth follow-up appointment or conduct laboratory monitoring, rather than an in-person visit, according to a study published in the American Journal of Managed […]
In September we wrote about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releasing its proposed 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The proposed rule notably included several proposals to make permanent, extend, or transition out of COVID-19 flexibilities issued by the agency. This was especially true in the telehealth space. Other areas of interest included changes to evaluation and […]
Welcome to Telehealth Roundup, highlighting news and features about emerging trends in telemedicine and telehealth. Outpatient Visits Rebound Outpatient visits per week have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, but not for all providers and patients, a new Commonwealth Fund report showed. In total, weekly outpatient visit counts have slightly exceeded pre-pandemic levels, but varied by patient age, geographic […]
ABSTRACT Background: Telehealth has emerged as a crucial component of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic emergency response. Simply stated, telehealth is a tool to provide health care from a distance. Jefferson Health has leveraged its acute care telehealth platform to screen, order testing, and manage patients with COVID-19–related concerns. Objective: This study aims to describe the expansion and results […]
The survey identifies what factors are most important to consumers when they choose telehealth, and it shows how the coronavirus pandemic has changed some of those priorities. By Eric Wicklund October 16, 2020 – Healthcare providers and payers looking to drive sustainability in a telehealth platform in a world affected by the coronavirus pandemic should focus on safety, […]
Eleven new services have been added to the list of telehealth services reimbursed by Medicare fee-for-service during the COVID-19 health emergency, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced Wednesday. Many of the new services involve cardiovascular care, including intensive cardiac rehabilitation with and without exercise, pulmonary rehab with exercise, and in-person ventricular assist device interrogation. Certain […]
Clinicians, vendors and telehealth advocates stress the importance of virtual services in expanding access to care – and noted the ways it still needs to improve. There’s no doubt that telehealth has proven to be an integral tool to keeping healthcare accessible amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Telehealth has continued to grow and has continued to really […]
On October 14, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it has expanded its list of telehealth services approved for Medicare beneficiaries during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). The eleven telehealth services CMS just added are for cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation. CMS approved them using an expedited process it unveiled in a May […]
As telehealth transitions from a nice-to-have benefit to an essential form of care delivery, payers will have to make some adjustments in order to permanently integrate telehealth coverage expansions. October 16, 2020 – Telehealth is metamorphosing and payers will have to take steps in order to permanently integrate telehealth coverage as a key form of care delivery. […]
Telehealth programs that include the caregiver in the care management process stand a better chance of improving outcomes and quality of life. October 16, 2020 – Telehealth programs are so focused on connecting the patient with the provider that they sometimes forget about the other person in the room: the caregiver. And that’s a problem. Family members […]
Community hospitals are a pillar of cities and towns across the nation and have been resilient over the past several years, especially during the pandemic. On Oct. 12, community hospital executives and industry leaders participated in the Becker’s Healthcare Community Hospitals Virtual Forum to discuss topics ranging from their biggest challenges and lessons learned during […]
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar believes that COVID-19 has led to a health care revolution, one that will include a larger focus on care in the home. Specifically, Azar thinks the increase in telehealth usage and a stronger focus on social determinants of health will be major influences in […]
Telehealth will be a cornerstone of future health care policy following the COVID-19 pandemic, with Medicare Advantage plans as one engine for growth. Expansion of telehealth services across the health care continuum accelerated rapidly due to efforts to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. These developments will likely shape health care for years to […]
CMS has added 11 services to Medicare’s telehealth reimbursement list for the duration of the pandemic and released new resources for state Medicaid and CHIP programs looking to expand their connected health offerings. By Eric Wicklund October 15, 2020 – The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has announced that 11 more telehealth services will qualify for Medicare […]
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest round of Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants, totaling $72 million, will go to 116 programs in 40 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The aid falls under the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service Telecommunications Program. “Increasing access to telemedicine and distance learning is critical to building healthier and […]