Patient satisfaction was high even before the pandemic, and anesthesiologists say 50% of visits could be virtual. Jeff Lagasse, Associate Editor Patients who saw a pain medicine specialist via telehealth saved time and money and were highly satisfied with their experience, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study being presented at the Anesthesiology 2020 annual meeting. […]
The federal government announced Thursday that the Provider Relief Fund will be replenished with a tranche of $20 billion. Unlike some of the previous rounds of relief, home health providers and others will have to apply for funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will begin accepting applications from providers on Oct. […]
By Holly Vossel | October 4, 2020 Hospices nationwide have leveraged technological advances to improve workflows, referral communications and enhance patient care. While telehealth in particular has been vital for hospices to continue reaching vulnerable high-risk patient populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, providers must proceed with caution when it comes to technology and patient care. Prior to the pandemic, technology in […]
On September 3, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Rural Action Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan: (i) details the challenges rural communities endure; (ii) provides an assessment of current and upcoming rural healthcare efforts; (iii) lays out a “Four Point Strategy” to address the disparities between rural and urban communities; and (iv) […]
The legislation would require the HHS Secretary to issue guidance to states on virtual care strategies and mandate studies on the impact of telemedicine on healthcare access. By Kat Jercich October 02, 2020 02:41 PM This week, U.S. Reps Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Dr. Michael C. Burgess, R-Texas, introduced legislation aimed at increasing telehealth access, […]
It’s crucial that today’s providers, innovators, and regulators alike continue to push for such tech adoption, driving virtual, continuous care in populations disproportionately affected by disease. By TARA DAVIS Post a comment / Oct 2, 2020 at 12:03 PM For years, healthcare providers have struggled to ensure that minorities, individuals residing in rural and low-income populations, and patients […]
From physical therapy to dentistry, a wide range of specialties are being delivered with a click. by Kevin Joy Telehealth isn’t just for urgent care. Consumers’ growing comfort with the platform — coupled with the demands of a public health emergency — has helped broaden the use of virtual visits to support a wide range […]
7 changes affecting HME paymentsby Miriam LieberFriday, October 2nd, 2020 Although home medical equipment (HME) providers are accustomed to constant change, the uncertainties of the pandemic have left them in a crisis unlike any other. The key coping mechanism—adaptability—remains the constant for the industry. Knowing that Competitive Bidding Round 2021 is looming and has not […]
Direct to consumer telehealth offers consumers and providers a quick and easy means of collaborating on episodic care. But what are the ideal uses for this type of service? By Eric Wicklund October 02, 2020 – Direct-to-consumer telehealth has been one of the stalwarts of the past decade, offering providers and consumers the opportunity to collaborate online without […]
Within the CDC’s three telehealth modalities, payers commonly turn to telehealth technologies including phone calls, secure direct messaging, and remote patient monitoring. By Kelsey Waddill October 02, 2020 – Phone calls, secure direct messaging, and remote patient monitoring are the three leading modalities that form the backbone of payer telehealth technologies. According to the Centers for Disease Control and […]
The TIKES Act of 2020, introduced this week on Capitol Hill, would direct HHS to help states improve telehealth coverage in Medicaid and CHIP programs and compel two studies on telehealth use and collaboration. By Eric Wicklund October 01, 2020 – A new bill before Congress aims to improve telehealth coverage for children through state Medicaid and Children’s […]
Being able to speak in depth about her side effects via telehealth made all the difference for an Indianapolis woman who was struggling with painful side effects from hormone therapy treatments in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. It was sometimes challenging for Jill Minton to explain her pain to Dr. Anuj Agarwala, a Community […]
Telehealth provides convenience to patients. It has the potential to improve patient outcomes by ensuring worrisome signs and symptoms are discussed with a clinician as quickly as possible. And it’s a lifeline during a pandemic for medically-vulnerable individuals who should not be going anywhere near other sick people. It also has the potential to be […]
Consider these questions to create the right telehealth program for your organization. Telehealth enhances patient care by providing continuous connection and improved access to both primary and specialty care through the use of technology. Virtual visits are one part of the overall telehealth strategy, which could also include remote patient monitoring, symptom surveys, activity tracking, educational resources, medication […]
A familiar echo of “we should have done this earlier” surrounds processes that could have been implemented before the pandemic hit. Telehealth is a prime example. The American Telemedicine Association is taking advantage of its success during the crisis to make telehealth a permanent fixture in U.S. healthcare. House calls seem like a quaint relic […]