When President Joe Biden declared the COVID-19 pandemic “over” Sept. 18, his message divided the medical community and sent a clear message: the nation is moving on from COVID-19. On Oct. 13, HHS extended the public health emergency once again and sent another clear message: the healthcare system is not ready to move on. “It’s not that we necessarily want to […]
Recently, the Office of Inspector General (“OIG”) for the Department of Health and Human Services published its Report on Medicare Telehealth Services During the First Year of the Pandemic: Program Integrity Risks (OEI-02-20-00720). OIG’s report describes providers’ billing for telehealth services and identifies ways to safeguard Medicare from fraud, waste and abuse related to telehealth. OIG […]
As we covered in a prior Telehealth Update, many of the flexibilities upon which telehealth providers have come to rely in recent years are tied to the federal Public Health Emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic (the PHE). While permanent changes in many states have expanded the types of providers who can provide telehealth services and loosened […]
Telehealth is a natural fit to cover healthcare gaps in rural and frontier locations. But the nature of rural living often means difficulty accessing the tools and resources needed for a successful and sustainable telehealth practice. On this page: Internet access for rural telehealth patients and providers Equipment and technology access for rural telehealth Solutions […]
Preparation is critical for patients who are new to receiving care through telehealth. Rural patients often have high levels of healthcare needs, but see healthcare providers less than their urban counterparts. In short, the people who need healthcare the most aren’t always getting it. Telehealth can be that bridge for rural patients to get the […]
Billing and reimbursement for rural and frontier telehealth services is, in many ways, no different than any other healthcare service. There are also some stark differences. On this page: Medicare and Medicaid billing reimbursement Medicare billing guidance Medicare and Medicaid billing reimbursement The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health focuses on rural […]
Save time and avoid frustration by planning your telehealth workflow in advance. On this page: Get to know your community Create a business plan Market and advertise your telehealth services Evaluate your telehealth program A successful and sustainable telehealth practice in a rural area needs careful planning from the early research through implementation. We can […]
Learn strategies for developing a rural telehealth program. Rural frontier living can be a haven for the 60 million Americans that live in a rural part of the United States. It often means less traffic congestion, less pollution, and more open spaces.fq Rural living may also mean less access to critical healthcare infrastructure and technology. […]
Learn the basic requirements for treating rural communities virtually. There are several ways to approach rural telehealth care. You could be living and working in a rural or frontier area and launching a new telehealth program. Or you could be located in a more urban or suburban area and expanding your practice to include rural […]
By Robert King Apr 13, 2022 03:11pm The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has extended the COVID-19 public health emergency for another 90 days and potentially for the final time. The PHE, which gives key flexibilities to providers and states, will not expire in July. The PHE was originally expected to expire April 16. It […]
Last week saw a lot of great news in the world of telehealth. On March 15, President Biden signed into law H.R. 2471, the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022”, which extends many of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic for a period following the end of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). […]
HHS Awards Nearly $55 Million to Increase Virtual Health Care Access and Quality Through Community Health Centers (2/14/2022) HRSA awarded a total of $54,564,275 in one-time funding to support 29 health centers to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative, evidence-based strategies that: Optimize the use of virtual care to increase access and improve clinical quality for underserved communities and vulnerable populations; […]
Awards will enhance telehealth, digital patient tools, and health information technology to support underserved communities. Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded nearly $55 million to 29 HRSA-funded health centers to increase health care access and quality for underserved populations through virtual care such […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the United States, states, payers, and providers are looking for ways to expand access to telehealth servic es. Telehealth is an essential tool in ensuring patients are able to access the healthcare services they need in as safe a manner as possible. In order to provide our clients with […]
By Robert King Jan 14, 2022 11:27am Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency for another 90 days, extending key flexibilities for providers still grappling with the pandemic. The public health emergency was first ordered back in January 2020 and was set to expire after Jan. 16. […]