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Dear Colleagues,
Spring is in full bloom, and the longer days returning are a great time to pause and take in the signs of growth happening all around us—especially in the world of telehealth. Between the extension of Federal telehealth waivers in early February, recently announced funding opportunities, and many state legislative sessions wrapping up this month, we've got plenty of updates! Among other things, this April edition of NETRC's Northeast Connections highlights:
- Federal and State funding opportunities and updates
- Upcoming in-person & virtual events
- Resources designed to support providers and partners across the region.
As demand for hybrid care continues to evolve, staying informed helps ensure you’re delivering efficient, high-quality care, and we're here to help! Thanks for the work you do—and for taking a few minutes to stay current with us.
On behalf of the entire NETRC Team, be well,
Reid Plimpton, MPH - Program Manager
| | Federally Funded State Initiatives | | | |  | |
Connecticut
SB 342 CT- An Act Concerning Health Coverage.
Beginning July 1, 2026, entities contracting with healthcare providers must ensure consistent reimbursement rates for certain outpatient services, regardless of service location or provider affiliation, within a geographic area.
To learn more, click here.
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Maine
LD1583- An Act Regarding Home Health Care
and Hospice Services Ordered by A Health Care Provider Outside of Maine.
This legislation allows home health care providers in Maine to accept orders from
physicians licensed in other states, removing the need for those physicians to be licensed in Maine for this purpose.
To learn more, click here.
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Massachusetts
H.97- An Act protecting consumers in interactions with artificial intelligence systems The legislation establishes consumer protections for interactions with artificial intelligence (AI) systems, focusing on preventing algorithmic discrimination.
To learn more, click here.
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New Hampshire
HP 1735 NH- Permitting Treatment of Certain
Severe Illness Under the Right To Try Act. Amends the definition of "telehealth prescreening' to include a person with a qualifying severe illness (as opposed to only a terminal illness).
To learn more, click here.
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New York
A 949 NY- Permits Telemedicine Services for Mental and Behavioral Health Issues Under the Workers' Compensation System.
The amendment allows workers' compensation to cover telemedicine services for mental and behavioral health issues, requiring at least one in-person visit within 12 months of the first video telehealth session and within 6 months of the first audio-only session.
To learn more, click here.
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Rhode Island
HB 7278 RI- An Act Relating to Insurance -- Telemedicine Act
The proposed legislation aims to address telemedicine coverage within the insurance sector. it seeks to ensure that telemedicine service4s are adequately covered by insurance policies similar to in-person medical visits.
To learn more, click here.
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Vermont
H 848 VT- An Act Relating to Limiting Facility Fees for Certain Outpatient Services and Telehealth.
The legislation proposes a limitation on facility fees associated with specific outpatient services and telehealth. This aims to reduce healthcare costs for patients by ensuring that separate fees for using a facility during these services are restricted.
To learn more, click here.
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Rural Health
HR 3102- An act to direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish an Office of Rural Health, and for other purposes. The proposed directive establishes an Office of Rural Health within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address health issues specific to rural populations. e.g., award grants and ensure coordination with other federal entities reduce effort duplication. Learn more
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Behavioral Health
HR 1614 us To Amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to remove the in-person requirements under Medicare for mental health services furnished through telehealth and telecommunications technology. Learn more
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Medicare Payment Policies
HR 4977 Connected MOM Act-the proposed legislation seeks to improve maternal and child health outcomes by identifying and addressing barriers to coverage of remote physiologic monitoring devices under State Medicaid programs. Learn More
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be required to have billing modifiers by 2027 to identify telehealth services delivered through third party virtual platforms with whom a clinician contracts or has a payment arrangement, and when telehealth is billed “incident to” another professional service.
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Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHCs) Planning, Development, and Implementation Grant
The purpose of this program is to develop and establish new Community Behavioral Health Clinics to address gaps in behavioral health services and improve the wellbeing of persons with mental health and substance use disorders.
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HRSA Announces More Than $135 Million to Expand Nutrition Services and Strengthen Rural Health Workforce
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) today announced more than $135 million in new funding opportunities to expand nutrition services and strengthen the rural health workforce. “Preventative care cuts costs, improves outcomes, and drives our mission to Make America Healthy Again,” said Secretary Kennedy. “These investments expand access to high-quality, affordable care—especially in rural communities that need it most.”
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SAVE THE DATE! 2026 NETRC-NERHA Workshop:
From Monitoring to Meaningful Impact, a 1-Day Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) Focused Event!
This event has been designed to have content for anyone interested in better understanding and utilizing RPM in their workflows, and will include sessions on: Reimbursement and Revenue Cycle Management considerations, Use cases and successful RPM models from around the Northeast, and networking opportunities for participants to discuss their goals and/or questions regarding RPM, along with engaging with other telehealth thought leaders around the region.
Both Virtual and In-Person Registration options will be available and opening soon! Reach out with any questions.
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SAVE THE DATE
2026 NORTH COUNTRY LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
"Partners in Progress"
September 30 - October 1, 2026
Lake Placid, New York
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The ATA and Johns Hopkins Medicine Launch Initiative to Overcome Barriers to Interstate Telehealth Access
The American Telemedicine Association (ATA), in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Medicine, today announced a three-year initiative to advance understanding and legislative action to reduce state licensure hurdles and expand nationwide telehealth access through carefully tailored federal solutions that complement, rather than replace, state-based licensure and oversight. Learn More
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Medicare telehealth waivers were extended through December 31, 2027 as a result of the passage of HR 7148 – The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026. However, the extension was not the only important telehealth-related item in HR 7148. The bill also contained several policies that may be new and unfamiliar since they have not previously appeared within existing federal telehealth policy. Below we will highlight four independent items within HR 7148 that readers may want to review. Learn more
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In early March, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued 30 warning letters to telehealth companies regarding the illegal marketing of compounded GLP-1 drugs, signaling continued and heightened federal scrutiny of advertising practices. According to the FDA’s March 3, 2026 press release, the agency identified false and misleading claims on telehealth and pharmaceutical company websites related to compounded GLP-1 products, drugs commonly used for weight loss and diabetes management. Learn more
| | Upcoming Webinars & Events | |
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Meaningful MOUD Care: A Team-Based Approach
This ECHO is designed for the entire care continuum, whether you’re a prescriber, pharmacist, peer or recovery coach, social worker, PT/OT, or play another vital role in supporting individuals with opioid use disorder. You’ll join a collaborative, supportive learning community focused on delivering more meaningful, team-based MOUD care in real-world settings. We especially encourage participation from individuals with lived experience - your voice is incredibly valuable in shaping this work.
Sign up here: https://bit.ly/MOUDECHO2026
Up to 12.0 FREE hours of CEUs pending for physicians, nurses, and social workers, and ADCs. This program also meets the state-required opioid CMEs for physicians.
New to ECHO? Watch this short video from our friends at CARE2 to see what happens in these virtual, one-hour workshops.
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The Future of Telehealth: Breaking
Barriers And Changing The Healthcare Landscape
Remember the days of printed directions, when we couldn’t plan a road trip without wrinkled paper maps spread across the front seat detailing when to turn left? The evolution from office appointment to telehealth isn’t too different.
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Iran-Linked Cyberattack: What U.S. Companies Need to Know
On March 11, 2026, independent reports confirmed that one of the largest medical device companies in the United States was the target of a significant cyberattack attributed to Iran-linked threat actors.
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CMS Sets Standards For Electronic Transfer Of Claims Documentation
The regulation standardizes the electronic exchange of medical records, imaging results , and other documents requested by payers to support claims.
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Telehealth Visits May Help Breast Cancer Patients Stay On Treatment
Staying in touch with doctors online could help breast cancer survivors keep up their cancer treatment, according to a recent study from the University of Georgia.
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Top Telehealth News Just For You
Every month, we curate the most recent and relevant news stories for telehealth so you can stay up to date. Find these and more on our website's news library.
| | Other Research + Resources | | |
NCTRC Webinar Series Present and Past
National Telehealth Resource Centers
Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare
RHIHub 2026
How can I use telehealth to improve my eating habits and nutrition?
Telehealth.HHS.gov 2026
Rural Home Hospital Implementation Roadmap
ARIADNE LABS 2026
| | Have telehealth questions? | | |
NETRC | netrc@mcd.org | 800-379-2021 | netrc.org
| | | The Northeast Telehealth Resource Center has been made possible by award number U1U42523 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth: HRSA / DHHS. | | | | |
