There has been a 4000% increase in commercial telehealth claims year-to-year and 1/3 of them are mental health claims. COVID-19 has precipitated a mental health pandemic. Not only can the virus have direct neuropsychiatric effects, but the necessary public health measures we are taking to stem the spread, inconsistent messaging, and the pervasive uncertainty about the present and the […]
From managing cybersecurity imperatives with at-home patients as a new X factor, to surfing the data tsunami of remote patient monitoring, experts from NIST, FCC, Mount Sinai, Yale, Leapfrog and others offer insights on demand. By Mike Miliard September 28, 2020 11:53 AM Telehealth has been around for a long time, but only recently has it […]
The American Telemedicine Association’s comments focused on expanding telehealth access, changes to remote monitoring services, and the provision of telehealth in federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics. By Kat Jercich September 25, 2020 02:02 PM The American Telemedicine Association was among several groups this week that submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services […]
Over 94% of Medicare Advantage plans will offer additional telehealth benefits, up from about 58% of plans offering telehealth benefits in 2020. Susan Morse, Managing Editor More Medicare Advantage plans in 2021 will offer telehealth benefits. Average 2021 premiums for Medicare Advantage plans are expected to decline 34.2% from 2017 while plan choice, benefits, and enrollment […]
Among Medicare Advantage plans, 53 will be covering hospice and palliative care in 2021 through the value-based insurance design (VBID) model, according to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare Advantage is seeing record-high levels of participation for 2021 among beneficiaries, reaching about 42% for 2021, CMS reported. Starting in 2021, payers […]
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) issued a policy comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), advocating for telehealth-friendly changes to Medicare’s telehealth coverage and reimbursement rules. The ATA’s letter also made recommendations on CMS’ proposed interpretations on remote patient monitoring (RPM) requirements. The letter was submitted in response to CMS’ 2021 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The ATA letter notes: […]
Jackie Drees – Friday, September 25th, 2020 The American Heart Association and American Cancer Society and 15 other patient organizations on Sept. 24 released a set of principles for legislators to consider for telehealth implementations. The principles are meant to guide regulations for telehealth during and after the COVID-19 public health emergency. Here are the group’s six recommendations: 1. […]
A bill filed this week would expand the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program to include telehealth services, thus improving access to care for millions of people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. By Eric Wicklund September 25, 2020 – A group of Senators has introduced a bill that would expand access to the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program through […]
By Robert Holly | September 24, 2020 The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on Wednesday released $165 million in supplemental funding for Money Follows the Person (MFP) programs, which encourage transitions from long-term care facilities to home- and community-based settings. In the grand scheme of government health care spending, $165 million is only a drop in the […]
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) issued a policy comment letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), advocating for telehealth-friendly changes to Medicare’s telehealth coverage and reimbursement rules. The ATA’s letter also made recommendations on CMS’ proposed interpretations on remote patient monitoring (RPM) requirements. The letter was submitted in response to CMS’ 2021 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The ATA letter notes: […]
The U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) took a new step on Wednesday to support care transitions from long-term care facilities into home- and community-based settings. On Wednesday, CMS announced the availability of up to $165 million in supplemental funding to states currently operating Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration programs. MFP programs […]
Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that it will expand the Medicare Prior Authorization Model for Repetitive, Scheduled Non-Emergent Ambulance Transport (RSNAT) nationwide. The model has saved Medicare about $650 million over four years while preserving quality of care and access to essential services. As part of CMS’s comprehensive approach to […]
Senior living providers are spending much more on technology during Covid-19, even if many of them are also not sure what they’ll do with it in the future. Those are among the findings of a new survey conducted by Senior Housing News in partnership with global health technology firm Philips. The survey — conducted online from July […]
The ESRD Treatment Choices (ETS) Model incentivizes providers who support home-based dialysis and care – and could open the door to more telehealth and remote patient monitoring programs. By Eric Wicklund September 18, 2020 – Federal officials have unveiled a new treatment model for patients living with kidney disease that could boost interest in telehealth and remote patient […]
AACE leaders on embracing technology in medicine by Howard M. Lando, MD, and Susan L. Samson, MD, PhD September 18, 2020 Telehealth has been available as a tool for health care practitioners for years but, until recently, it was primarily used to treat patients in rural areas and with various restrictions, including where the service could […]