TELEHEALTH BEAT
HTRC's monthly telehealth bulletin
CMS emergency response to COVID-19 will loosen telehealth restrictions
Last week Congress raced to enact emergency provisions to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. As part of the response package, CMS will temporarily eliminate the geographic restrictions for telehealth. The provision, “Telehealth Services During Certain Emergency Periods Act of 2020,” specifies the following:
 
  • There will be no geographic limitation to rural areas. Patients will be covered whether in rural or urban areas.
  • Reimbursement will cover patients in their homes.
 
The legislation passed the House and Senate with overwhelming support and was signed into law on Friday, March 6.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine grant from the Department of Agriculture is designed to help overcome education and medical challenges that face rural communities through telemedicine. This year’s grant application is due April 10. To inspire you, here’s an overview of regional awardees announced in November: 
 
The Allen and Woodson County hospital systems in Kansas will use their DLT funding to install interactive video systems. These video systems will include specialty care such as opioid prevention, treatment and recovery services. The grant will benefit 14 sites across four Southeast Kansas communities comprising over 9,000 residents. The program is intended to allow a more comprehensive health care experience to avoid health crises that require emergency room visits. 
 
The Pawnee Mental Health Services is using their grant to install teleconferencing equipment that will provide psychotherapy, psychiatric medication management and parenting classes to local residents. Over 14,000 residents will be served across Kansas. 
 
“With this grant, we’ll be able to place equipment in those offices as well as the county health departments in those counties to enable residents to receive the mental health services that they need five days a week,” says Pawnee Mental Health Services Executive Director Robbin Cole, in an interview with News Radio KMAN. 
 
The Salem Memorial District Hospital plans to implement technology to connect Missouri schools to Missouri hospitals, increasing accessibility and quality for care to 2,297 rural Missouri students.
 
The Housing Authority of the Choctaw Nation is implementing the Choctaw Home and Health Distance Learning and Telemedicine program. The program will provide health care services to the Choctaw Nation and will serve 189 Choctaw Nation residents. 
 
The Oklahoma Department of Corrections (ODOC), intends to replace existing telemedicine in Oklahoma prisons. This project increases rural access to limited education, training, and health care resources for about 15,570 inmates. 
 
The Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (OSU-CHS) is partnering with the Cherokee Nation to provide telemedicine equipment. Equipment will be installed at nine sites across eight Oklahoma counties. This project increases rural access to health care for about 42,100 residents. 
 
Apply now for the chance to get your own DLT grant and increase telemedicine access in your area! HTRC can provide tips on successful applications. Call us at 877-643-HTRC.

EVENTS
HTRC Webinar Series:
Opioids and Substance Use Treatment
April 7
12-1 p.m. CST

Technological solutions have been tapped as one tool in developing a humane response to the opioid crisis. Join Shane Hudson MS, LCP, LCAC, CEO of CKF Addiction Treatment to learn how they are using technology to help clients find recovery. 

As President and CEO of CKF Addiction Treatment, Shane is responsible for overall agency analysis, strategy, and innovation to serve CKF’s patients as services expand into the future.

The Heartland Telehealth Resource Center will present a series of webinars on May 5, June 2, July 7 and August 4. 

There is no cost to participate in the series, but registration is required. CME and continuing education is available.

Future sessions will cover: 
Veterans’ services 
New and innovative technology
Nurse practitioners and PAs
State and national requirements update

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

There's an upcoming funding opportunities through USDA: Rural Development.

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grant
Due date: April 10, 2020
The Distance Learning and Telemedicine program helps rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. For example, this program can link teachers and medical service providers in one area to students and patients in another. For the more information about the 2020 program, please register for one of our informational webinars on  March 3, 2020 . All upcoming events will be posted on the events program tab.