Telemedicine
Senators Eye Medicare Coverage for Telehealth in Diabetes Prevention Programs
A group of Senators has re-introduced a bill that would establish Medicare coverage for telehealth services in CMS-sanctioned Diabetes Prevention Programs. By Eric Wicklund June 24, 2021 – A group of Senators has re-introduced a bill that would establish Medicare coverage for care providers who use telehealth in diabetes prevention programs. The Promoting Responsible and Effective Virtual Experiences through […]
Are States Making COVID-19 Telehealth Emergency Measures Permanent?
Texas may be among the first of many states to enact laws that encourage providers to continue electronically communicating with and monitoring their patients after COVID-19 emergency regulations and governors’ orders expire. State legislatures are acknowledging the advantages telehealth offered during COVID-19 and are making major changes to pre-pandemic law to accommodate its continued use […]
15 words that changed, defined healthcare this past year
The COVID-19 pandemic changed life as we know it forever — and how we talk about it. Below are 15 words that have gained a new meaning during the pandemic, solidified their place in public dialogue or didn’t even exist a year and a half ago. Breakthrough. After the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, use of the […]
How Medical Practices Can Succeed At Remote Patient Monitoring
Once mastered, the remote patient monitoring platform gives the practice a pathway to establishing meaningful care management. June 07, 2021 – As the nation’s healthcare ecosystem looks to embrace value-based care, concepts like remote patient monitoring are gaining favor with providers—particularly medical practices—who want to improve care management. As with any relatively new service, remote patient monitoring […]
Congress to Get Another Shot at Telehealth Coverage for Specialists
Lawmakers have resubmitted the Expanded Telehealth Access Act, which would permanently extend Medicare coverage to telehealth services provided by physical and occupational therapists, audiologists and speech and language pathologists. By Eric Wicklund March 26, 2021 – A group of lawmakers has resubmitted a bill seeking to permanently expand Medicare coverage to telehealth services provided by physical and occupational therapists, […]
FAQs on Telemedicine and HIPAA During the Public Health Emergency
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, federal agencies have sought to allow health care companies more flexibility to use popular technology and applications to better engage with their patients. One example is the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Civil Rights (OCR), which issued a notice that it will allow health care providers to use widely-available communications software without […]
Menendez, Sullivan Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Close Digital Divide, Address Disparities in Maternal Mortality
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee that sets national health policy, and Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) formally introduced bipartisan legislation today to close the digital divide in health care and address racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. The Tech to Save Moms Act will […]
New HHS Secretary Becerra urged to expand digital health access
Minutes after the full Senate confirmed Xavier Becerra’s cabinet nomination, advocacy groups were reminding him of the need to bring the American healthcare system “into the 21st century.” By Kat Jercich March 18, 2021 03:19 PM Health advocacy groups congratulated new U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra on his confirmation Thursday […]
Quality Virtual Care Matters for Patients – Even More Than Telehealth
The COVID-19 pandemic made healthcare visits over video or phone the norm, likely turning telehealth into a permanent fixture within the U.S. healthcare system. In fact, the majority of patient access leaders at large hospitals believe 20-30 percent of appointments will happen over video in 2021, according to recent research. Further, an overwhelming portion of those leaders – 95 […]
COVID-19 Reaffirms: RPM is Wise Investment for Health Insurers
Significant attention has been paid to the recent surge in telehealth. This attention is valid. While usage of telehealth has declined from the initial months of the pandemic, FAIR Health data show that telehealth claim lines had increased more than 2,800% nationally from December 2019 to December 2020. Significant attention has been paid to the recent […]
Permanent changes finally coming to telehealth
As a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, telehealth has evolved and will continue to evolve. As part of this evolution, CMS finalized a rule that expands Medicare coverage for telehealth services. This final rule, along with other new rules and waivers by the federal government, state governments and private payors, has significantly expanded […]
America’s Access to Care Crisis: Telemedicine Provides the Solution
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States in early 2020, telemedicine took a giant leap forward in popularity. Because of the pandemic and under the direction of federal, state, and local government agencies, necessary relaxation of advance practice provider (APP) supervision and insurance rules redefined access to care through telemedicine, giving providers and healthcare […]
In the Matter of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers – REPORT AND ORDER AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION
Before theFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers))))) WC Docket No. 20-89 WC Docket No. 18-213 REPORT AND ORDER AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION Adopted: March 29, 2021 Released: March 30, 2021 By the Commission: Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel and Commissioners Carr and Starks issuing separate statements. […]