During the COVID-19 crisis, there has been unprecedented interest in the use of telehealth as its unique qualities make it an invaluable tool when faced with a highly infectious disease.  Pre-COVID-19 telehealth policy barriers have been removed at a rapid rate, however, these changes are temporary.  Once the initial...

 Long Term Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities and/or Nursing Facilities): CMS Flexibilities to Fight COVID-19 Since the beginning of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, the Trump Administration has issued an unprecedented array of temporary regulatory waivers and new rules to equip the American healthcare system with maximum flexibility to...

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, HHS has taken steps to make it easier to provide telehealth services. Telehealth — sometimes referred to as telemedicine — describes the use of 2-way communication technology for certain health care services. We encourage health care providers to adopt and use telehealth as a...

Latest Updates & Resources COVID-19 Telehealth Policy Resources to Know About With telehealth policy changing rapidly during the COVID-19 emergency, the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) and the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRCs) have worked to develop some important resources to help guide providers and telehealth...

By Alex Spanko | March 31, 2020 As part of a sweeping set of waivers announced late Monday, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded its efforts to cut restrictions on telehealth — essentially removing any last roadblock that providers would face to offering virtual interventions at nursing homes. By allowing...

After passing in both the House and Senate, the President signed into law HR 748, the Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security Act or “CARES Act”.  The $2 trillion relief package not only provides economic relief but also funding for health care.  Among the provisions include funding for hospitals,...

With concerns around staffing and supply shortages in nursing homes amid the coronavirus, telemedicine has emerged as a key potential weapon, receiving the first-ever major green light for reimbursement on the national level — as part of an $8.3 billion bill allowing the federal government to cover remote care for Medicare...

TitleGuidance for Infection Control and Prevention Concerning Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) by Hospice AgenciesMemo #QSO-20-16-HospicePosting Date2020-03-09Fiscal Year2020SummaryCMS is committed to protecting American patients by ensuring health care facilities have up-to-date information to adequately respond to COVID-19 concerns. • Coordination with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and...

The U.S. Centers for Health & Human Services (CMS) has issued guidelines for protecting health care workers who operate in the home and community from COVID-19, including hospice providers.  The CMS materials contain guidance for screening for and treatment of the virus in addition to when patients should be transitioned to...

A patient’s ‘circle of care’ can include relatives, friends, a spiritual adviser or the pharmacist, not just doctors, nurses, or telehealth clinicians. Technology is helping bring them all together. BRIGITTE PELLERINJanuary 3, 2020 A fresh decade means fresh ideas. Brigitte Pellerin talks to some of the local people who...