A Message from the Director
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Dear Colleagues;
Spring is on the horizon, and we hope you're enjoying those extra minutes of daylight as much as we are! We have a number of exciting updates to share, starting with the NETRC team. As eluded in our last newsletter, we're thrilled to announce that Reid Plimpton has recently come on board as NETRC Project Manager. We've shared some additional information about Reid and how you can connect with him below
- please reach out and say hello, and let him know how we can help with your telehealth efforts!
There's also been some exciting activity throughout the region:
- Our own Dr. Terry Rabinowitz, Principal Investigator for the NETRC and Medical Director for the Telemental Health Program at the University of Vermont Medical Center was featured in a recent Wall Street Journal article: Online Psychotherapy for the Elderly, which highlights the benefits of telemedicine in enhancing access to care for older adults.
- Massachusetts recently announced that MassHealth (MA Medicaid) is offering teletherapy and telepsychiatry services to members. Starting January 1, 2019 Community Health Centers, Community Mental Health Centers, and Outpatient Substance Use Disorder providers may deliver specified services via telehealth. See the following for more details: MassHealth All Provider Bulletin 281; Article: The Good and the Bad of the New MassHealth Telemedicine Rule.
- And the New York State Dept. of Health’s Office of Health Insurance Programs has published long awaited policy and billing guidance on expanded coverage of telehealth. See the special edition of their Medicaid Newsletter: Expansion of Telehealth for details.
And last but not least - the agenda for our
2019 Northeast Regional Telehealth Conference
is shaping up to be one of our most impactful yet. We've confirmed a number of exciting plenaries and breakouts, including focuses on expanded telehealth policy, telebehavioral health, school-based telehealth, and telehealth for older adults. Our colleagues from the National Telehealth Technology Assessment Center will once again be providing hands-on technology showcases as well.
We hope you'll consider joining us for this year's event!
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with questions, to share your successes, or just to catch up!
On Behalf of the NETRC Team - Best Regards,
Danielle Louder - Program Director
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Join us for the NETRC Annual Conference!
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A Practical Tour of the Telehealth Landscape...
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The Northeast Telehealth Resource Center is thrilled to return to Portland, ME for our 5th Annual Regional Telehealth Conference
June 17-18, 2019!
Our
Call for Presentations
is now closed.
Sponsorship/Exhibitor
opportunities
are available as well!
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Meet Reid Plimpton - NETRC Project Manager!
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Reid joins the NETRC team after having previously worked as Project Coordinator for the Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey over the past 4 years. Reid is originally from New Hampshire, and has lived in Maine since completing his Community Health Sciences B.S. degree at the University of Maine at Farmington in 2014. Reid will complete his Master of Public Health from The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice in June.
Reid is passionate about the telehealth field and its capacity to improve access to healthcare and quality of care for rural and underserved areas, along with policy research and development. He's excited to learn about and work with regional and national partners and stakeholders, and to dive into assisting both existing and new telehealth programs across the Northeast and beyond. Reid enjoys spending time with his fiancé Laura and their dog Abby, golfing, reading, coaching & other community volunteer work, and being outdoors.
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Upcoming & Archived Webinars
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National TRC Webinar Series
March 21 - 2:00pm Eastern
Creative Telehealth Training in an Academic Setting
Hosted by the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center - Join us as the University of Utah shares its unique, inter-professional
telehealth training program, which telehealth concepts, etiquette. A partnership with Utah Area Health Education Centers Scholars Program broadens access to the training to universities and colleges across Utah.
Click on the image above to register!
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Coming up Soon!
March 14 - 1pm Eastern: Hosted by the Adirondack Health Institute - 2019 NYS Telehealth Regulatory & Reimbursement Update
Five Part Series: Genetics in Primary Care - Provided by the Weitzman Institute, in partnership with the New England Regional Genetics Network
And in case you missed it...
February 21:
NCTRC Webinar – Federal and State Policy Updates for CY 2019, including CMS Changes & State Level Trends
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Upcoming Conferences/Events
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Regional Telehealth Resource Center Conferences
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Many of the Regional Telehealth Resource Centers host events throughout the year. Check out the National Consortium of TRCs website to find dates and locations!
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Upcoming National Conferences
New Orleans, LA
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Serving survivors: in rural states, telemedicine brings treatment for sexual abuse
Ohio Valley ReSource, March 1, 2019
Link
This story profiles the delivery of domestic violence services by the University of Wyoming at Laramie to rural areas of the state.
MAVEN project partners with VSee to boost telemedicine platform
mHealth Intelligence, February 28, 2019
Link
The MAVEN Project, a national non-profit offering eConsults and virtual visits to Federally Qualified Health Centers and other safety net providers, is expanding its telemedicine capabilities in a partnership with VSee.
Liability risk in telehealth: 7 things to consider
MedCity News, February 28, 2019
Link
Physicians considering expanding into telemedicine must understand the applicable legal limits, as well as critical ways to minimize their risk. Seven tips are highlighted.
NYP sees telehealth success after adjusting to the patient’s preferences
mHealth Intelligence, February 22, 2019
Link
NewYork-Presbyterian wasn't getting much use of its system of urgent care that connected patients in their homes to providers but garnered much more use of a telehealth triage access site placed at primary care provider offices.
The success of the program can be seen so far in reduced crowds in both the PCP offices and local ERs and
a reduction in waiting times
from more than two hours to about 30 minutes.
New York State Health Department announces package of innovative state regulatory initiatives that will improve access to health care and reduce overall costs
New York Dept. of Health press release, February 20, 2018
Link
Among the improved policies under a statewide Regulatory Modernization Initiative is a set of regulations and policies that aims to leverage advances in telehealth to address New York's evolving health care needs and challenges for health care access. One notable strategy involved expanding the list of eligible originating sites so that patients can receive telehealth services in any setting, including their own homes.
USDA prioritizes opioid abuse treatment in next telemedicine grants
mHealth Intelligence, February 15, 2019
Link
The US Department of Agriculture is earmarking more than $10 million in Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants for connected health programs that address opioid abuse treatment and recovery.
Massachusetts embraces telemental health for Medicaid members
mHealth Intelligence, February 15, 2019
Link
Massachusetts has expanded its MassHealth program to allow those on Medicaid to access mental health and addiction treatment services though a telemedicine platform.
Federal grants to boost telehealth in school-based health centers
mHealth Intelligence, February 07, 2019
Link
120 school-based health centers around the country are getting $11 million in HRSA grants to upgrade services and develop telehealth programs that expand access to mental health, substance abuse and obesity-related services.
AHA says telehealth expansion can help struggling rural hospitals
mHealth Intelligence, February 06, 2019
Link
A new report from the American Hospital Association calls on the federal government to expand opportunities for telehealth and telemedicine to help keep America's struggling rural hospitals in operation.
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Recommended Telehealth Research/Resources
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Expansion of telehealth
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New York State Department of Health. Medicaid Update, Vol. 25 (2) Special edition February 2019
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The Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (a proud member of the
National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers) aims to increase access to quality health care services for rural and medically underserved populations through Telehealth. Our service area includes New England, Northern New Jersey, and New York. Learn more at
www.netrc.org
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This newsletter was made possible by grant number G22RH30352 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS
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