New USDA grants target telehealth programs in dozens of states- mHealth Intelligence November 20, 2019 Link
Some 74 telehealth projects across the country will receive funding through the US Department of Agriculture's latest round of distance learning and telemedicine grants.
 
DEA to launch registration process for prescriptions by telemedicine- mHealth Intelligence, November 21, 2019 Link
Federal officials are finally moving forward with a registration process for healthcare providers who want to prescribe controlled substances through telemedicine, as outlined in the Ryan Haight Act.
 
MAVEN project CEO links telehealth consults to value-based care- mHealth Intelligence, November 14, 2019 Link
At Xtelligent Healthcare Media's recent Value-Based Care Summit in Boston, Lisa Bard Levine explained how the MAVEN Project's telehealth consult platform helps providers improve clinical outcomes and their workflows.
 
Avera, Tyto Care team up to make telehealth visits more comfortable- mHealth Intelligence, November 15, 2019 Link
Avera eCARE and Tyto Care are partnering to give schools, senior living facilities and clinics across the Midwest access to easy-to-use telehealth technology that can replicate the doctor's exam.
 
Massachusetts looks to lower barriers for telemedicine- The Heartland Institute, November 14, 2019 Link
Four proposed bills under review by the state legislature would require health insurance companies to provide coverage for telehealth services, including private and Managed Medicaid insurance providers.
 
How eConsults could transform care coordination and access- mHealth Intelligence, November 13, 2019 Link
eConsults allow primary care doctors to tap specialist advice by store-and-forward connections. According to experts at the XTelligent Media’s Value-Based Care Summit this approach hold promise to improve care coordination and reduce costs, but adopting the telemedicine service will require significant changes in communication and practice.
 
Patient experience is evolving as providers embrace telehealth- Healthcare IT News, November 12, 2019 Link
While face-to-face visits are still preferred by many, 90% of healthcare organizations polled by HIMSS Media say they're using or piloting remote care services to boost care coordination, manage at-risk patients and broaden pop health efforts.
 
CMS expands telehealth coverage for opioid abuse disorder treatment- mHealth Intelligence , November 12, 2019 Link
In the finalized 2020 Physician Fee Schedule, CMS is adding three CPT codes for telehealth services included in bundled episodes of care for opioid abuse treatment, including care delivered to the home.
 
Telehealth: Medicare finalizes new services for 2020 in Physician Fee Schedule- Health Care Law Today , November 11, 2019 Link
CMS just released the 2020 final rule with changes to its virtual care codes. The new provision, officially titled “Communication Technology-Based Services,” introduces three new covered Telehealth Services. These changes were proposed as part of the 2020 Physician Fee Schedule earlier this year and continue CMS’ efforts to reduce administrative burden and cover more virtual care services in the Medicare program
 
Federal law cripples telehealth in Medicare. New bill changes that. - AMA Practice Management News, November 5, 2019 Link
The AMA is joining more than 100 other organizations in endorsing the bill, the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) Health Act of 2019. The bill gives the Health and Human Services Secretary authority to waive telehealth restrictions, such as geographic restriction on eligible services to rural sites and disqualifying the home as an eligible patient site.
 
Medicare remote patient monitoring: CMS finalizes new code and general supervision- Health Care Law Today, November 5, 2019 Link
CMS just released the 2020 final rule with changes to remote patient monitoring (RPM) as part of the Physician Fee Schedule changes. One limitation is that RPM is not separately billable by FQHC and RHC health centers because they are already included in the RHC all-inclusive rate or FQHC Prospective Payment System payment, CMS explained.
 
Health payers tap telehealth to boost pediatric psychiatry access- mHealth Intelligence, November 4, 2019 Link
When the demand for children’s psychiatry services was high but the state suffered pediatric psychiatrist shortages, Blue Cross Blue Shield Rhode Island leveraged telehealth options and a strong provider relationship. Using this reimbursement option, Bradley Hospital hosts the PediPRN initiative, providing a consultation team of child psychiatrists to provide telehealth support to pediatric primary care providers.
 
Walgreens shutters retail health clinics, eyes telehealth partnerships- mHealth Intelligence, October 30, 2019 Link
The pharmacy chain is closing about 160 of its health clinics and focusing instead on telehealth partnerships with health systems, its mHealth platform and connected health services for chronic care patients and seniors.
 
Congress mulls federal support for specialist consults via telehealth- mHealth Intelligence, October 25, 2019 Link
As proposed, the Specialty Treatment Access and Referrals (STAR) Act would establish a grant program to help healthcare providers develop and launch an eConsult platform.