Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said the COVID-19 pandemic has opened the door to widespread adoption of remote health care. “Telehealth has become the silver lining of the pandemic,” Matsui said at The Hill’s “COVID-19: The Way Forward” event. The California Democrat, who sits on health and technology subcommittees as a member of the House Energy […]
With the coronavirus crisis, health systems catapulted the industry into the future by accelerating virtual care initiatives that will forever change the way healthcare is delivered in the U.S. As 2020 launched, healthcare executives had no way of knowing the havoc a novel virus that had emerged in Wuhan, China, would wreak on the healthcare […]
The novel coronavirus (nCV) pandemic represents an unprecedented challenge to our health care system. Yet as a physician (Bruggeman) and U.S. senator/physician (Cassidy), we know that it is often times of challenge that bring out the most innovation as our health care system adapts to changing conditions to ensure that patients receive the care that […]
US Rep. Ann Wagner’s Telehealth Act pulls together nine telehealth bills introduced over the past year – all by Republicans – in a bid to give lawmakers one overarching piece of connected health legislation A Missouri Congresswoman has introduced a telehealth bill that combines nine other connected health bills into one piece of legislation. The […]
Covid-19 has transformed the traditional doctor’s office visit as we know it, moving it away from physical offices by adding online connections. That doesn’t mean virtual care is the sole future of health care. Instead, I hope it will become part of a new balance that embraces the potential of anywhere care. To get there, the United […]
Physicians say pandemic has shown not only the utility but also the effectiveness of remote health care delivery Hundreds of hospitals and health care centers from Washington state to Louisiana are expanding telehealth infrastructure thanks to $200 million that Congress appropriated for the Federal Communications Commission in emergency legislation. In some cases, hospitals are supplementing the federal […]
U.S. healthcare was gearing up for a rebound that includes telehealth. But then the pandemic surged back. Don’t bother asking Keith Blechman, M.D., when his practice will get “back to normal.” Operations at his Upper East Side plastic surgery practice in Manhattan have shifted so drastically in the months since the COVID-19 pandemic began that […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have released the best practices for telehealth in a final report that also gives solutions to help reduce barriers for telehealth to help substance use disorders. CMS released the report to help increase telehealth services and the effectiveness of Medicaid services through telehealth, according to a press […]
CMS is planning to eliminate 74 of the 83 codes created to cover telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic, though it’s adding 13 new codes and could be swayed by public comments to add more coverage. August 14, 2020 – While Congress debates extending telehealth coverage and President Trump tries to compel it through an Executive Order, […]
Highlights The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the Calendar Year (CY) 2021 Proposed Rule for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS), which contains updates to the Quality Payment Program (QPP). The MPFS dictates Medicare rates and policies under Part B, while the QPP implements two value-based payment programs: the Merit-Based Incentive Payment […]
On August 3, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule that announces and solicits public comments on proposed policy changes for Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule and other Medicare Part B services provided on or after January 1, 2021. Many of the CMS proposals involve expansion of telehealth services which […]
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has clarified how providers can use telehealth and mHealth to establish and run remote patient monitoring programs, with changes that some feel could hinder care at home. By Eric Wicklund September 01, 2020 – The federal government is clarifying how it regulates remote patient monitoring, with changes that could significantly affect […]
Telehealth reimbursement expansions granted during the PHE may be limited to providers in Advanced APMs moving forward to prevent program integrity issues, MedPAC said at a recent meeting. By Jacqueline LaPointe September 11, 2020 – The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is the latest group to weigh telehealth reimbursement expansions after the COVID-19 pandemic. In a meeting held virtually last […]
Dive Brief: Members of the congressional advisory group Medicare Payment Advisory Commission agree telehealth is here to stay, but are concerned about how to improve access without also running up substantial costs in the Medicare program. The group weighed various Medicare telehealth payment policies that could become permanent after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends […]
A bipartisan pair of US senators have proposed legislation that would allow certain controlled substances to be prescribed via an initial telehealth encounter and—under certain conditions—expand Medicare reimbursement of audio-only substance use disorder treatment services. The proposed TREATS Act has been referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and could significantly […]