Greetings Northwest Region:

Thank You to the Sponsors and Attendees of the 2024 NRTRC Conference: The Next Generation of Telehealth From Reactionary to Visionary

"Smashing success" was the phrase that echoed throughout the beautiful campus of the University of Washington in Seattle during the NRTRC conference, which was held April 29-May 1. Presentation topics delivered by subject-matter experts included AI, state Medicaid and federal policy updates, virtual nursing, quality improvement, digital health equity, and innovation, tips on how to build a virtual care program, telehealth technology, and more! Presentation Highlights  John Scott, MD, MSC, Professor of Medicine and Chief Digital Health Officer at the University of Washington Medicine, delivered the opening keynote focused on AI in medicine and its potential impact on the future role of the physician. Krista Stadler, RN, BSN, MHA, Healthcare Innovation Manager for Amazon Inc., kicked off day two of the conference with a discussion about the origins of telehealth and how it may change the future of healthcare. Mei Kwong, JD, Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, shared 2024 Federal Telehealth Policy Updates. Aaron Shill, MCRP, Director of Research & Programs for the National Digital Inclusion Alliance, welcomed us to our final day dedicated to digital equity by explaining how digital equity has become the super-determinant of health. The NRTRC greatly appreciates all of the conference exhibitors working to ensure that telehealth technologies are accessible for healthcare providers and their patients.

Most Recent Telehealth Policy Updates from the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) CMS Finalizes Rules on Access, Finance and Quality for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Managed Care (May 7, 2024) CCHP summarizes the telehealth-relevant aspects of this lengthy final rule, specifically related to appointment wait time standards and secret shopper surveys for Medicaid and CHIP managed care. New Research Showcases Telehealth’s Ability to Improve Care Quality, alongside Modest Increases in Utilization and Spending (April 30, 2024) CCHP's summary of the recent article published in Health Affairs shows that health systems with higher telehealth use had greater medication adherence rates and fewer emergency department visits, although there was a 2.2% increase in outpatient visits and a 1.6 % increase in spending. Future Direction of Federal Telehealth Policy-Recent Hearings Offer Insight (April 23, 2024) CCHP provides a summary of two hearings held in April 2024 that touched on Medicare reimbursement, primarily around payment parity, audio-only for Medicare beneficiaries, in-person requirements for telebehavioral health (for Medicare), and audio-only in Medicare.

Regional News Utah's Broadband Challenge Utah is on the brink of a transformative change, set to receive a substantial boost of nearly 400 million dollars in federal funding. This significant investment aims to expand high-speed internet access across the state, paving the way for a more connected and digitally advanced Utah. To ensure high-speed internet is available to all, Utah is conducting a Broadband Challenge aimed at collecting internet speed data, through the use of speed tests, to ensure funds are dispersed appropriately and effectively. To learn more about the State Broadband Challenge Process and how you can help, contact: The Center for Economic Opportunity Programming Director Rob Roake at rroake@belonginutah.org   Project Coordinator Position in Wyoming The Wyoming Institute for Disabilities (WIND) & the Wyoming Telehealth Network (WyTN) are now accepting applications for a Project Coordinator Senior position. This position will lead the coordination, implementation, outreach and engagement aligned with core activities of the Wyoming Telehealth Network and will build capacity, knowledge and skills for Wyoming healthcare professionals including clinical and mental health providers related to improving health outcomes for people with disabilities in Wyoming.  The WyTN supports healthcare entities, providers, and specialists to increase access to care and improve healthcare outcomes for Wyomingites, through professional development, collaboration, and leveraging of telecommunications technology.    For more information on the position, or to apply please click the following link: Project Coordinator, Senior - Wyoming Institute for Disabilities.

TeleBehavioral Health 501 Webinar Series The NRTRC is excited to partner with the Behavioral Health Institute at the University of Washington to deliver the TeleBehavioral Health 501 webinar series. We invite you to delve into innovative approaches and patient-centered care in the realm of telebehavioral health. This series will allow you to explore advanced strategies to enhance quality care for specific patient populations and services, with valuable insights for practitioners at every experience level. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, all are welcome to join us on this journey into the evolving landscape of telebehavioral health.  Click here to begin learning!

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Events to Bookmark in 2024

MAY NCTRC Webinar-Virtual Support Systems: The Impact of Telehealth on SUD/OUD Prevention, Treatment, and Recovery: Join the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC) on May 16th at 2:00 PM EST for a moderated panel discussion with Amnah Anwar, Senior Director of the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) and Program Director of the IRHA’s Rural Community Opioid Response Program (RCORP) funding alongside Drs. Ryan Sarver, MD and Errin Weisman, DO, two MOUD/MAT provider, pain management and addiction specialists, and rural health care advocates. May 16, 12:00 p.m.- 1:00 p.m Telehealth T-Time: Are you passionate about telehealth, virtual care, and digital health? Do you support telehealth services from a clinical, operational, or technical perspective? Do you “deliver care at a distance”? Have you been looking for the opportunity to connect and network with your peers? Then join us for one, two, or three sessions presented by your fellow telehealth enthusiast peers. May 16, June 20 and July 18 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. The AHRQ Safety Program for Telemedicine: Improving Antibiotic Use is entering the final weeks of enrollment for primary care practices and retail clinics that use telemedicine for a no-cost, national program to strengthen antibiotic prescribing practices. The program will begin in June and provide expert coaching to promote sustainable improvements and improve patient satisfaction through actionable, evidence-based guidance. Participants may receive continuing education credits (CEU), continuing medical education (CME) credits and American Board of Internal Medicine Maintenance of Certification points through live and/or self-paced materials. Visit the program website to join or sign up for an informational webinar on May 21, 12-12:30 p.m. ET Telehealth Everywhere: GPTRAC 2024 Conference: The Great Plains Telehealth Resource and Assistance Center (gpTRAC) is a federally funded telehealth training and technical assistance center at the University of Minnesota. We provide free resources, training, tailored consultations, and print and web-based resources to healthcare organizations seeking to design, implement, grow, sustain, and evaluate telehealth services. Our annual conference is the premier telehealth conference in the area. May 21 - May 22   Come As You Are: Democratizing Healthcare Through Black Church-Telehealth Initiatives: Join us to learn more about how legal and policy reforms can help telehealth partnerships with community-based organizations, such as Black Churches, democratize healthcare. May 23, 1:00 p.m.- 2:00 p.m.   Health Equity & Sustainability: Digital Innovation Makes It Happen: A 3-day virtual summit where healthcare visionaries, industry experts, and innovators converge to explore the pivotal role of digital innovation in fostering health equity and sustainability across California and beyond. This summit is a unique opportunity to delve into cutting-edge solutions, exchange ideas, and forge partnerships that drive positive change in healthcare delivery and access. This virtual summit offers a dynamic platform for education, collaboration, and networking, bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise to accelerate progress toward health equity and sustainability. May 29 - May 31 Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), Region E: In partnership with the Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP), NOSORH is thrilled to kick off this year’s lineup of FORHP Regional Partnership Meetings! These meetings are a wonderful opportunity to focus on regional rural health needs and network with other State Offices in your region. Anchorage, AK July 9-11

2023 NRTRC Telehealth Survey Results Released The 2023 NRTRC Telehealth Survey results are here! Click to see the latest telehealth trends, including areas of growth, patient and provider needs, and the opportunities and barriers that exist in the northwest region. 

Do You Provide Health Care or Services via Telehealth?

NRTRC's Find Telehealth is available to help patients and providers find in-person and telehealth care along with locations to have telehealth visits. TAPs can be viewed by turning on the TAPs button on the map.  Click Here to Update Information on your Practice  Click Here to Add a TAP

Northwest Regional State Telehealth Website Links Alaska Collaborative for Telehealth and Telemedicine Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Montana Telehealth Alliance Telehealth Alliance of Oregon Utah Telehealth Network Washington State Telehealth Collaborative Washington State Department of Health Wyoming Telehealth Network

Telehealth Resources Telehealth Tools and Resources: Find up-to-date telehealth tools & resources. Professional Development: Visit NRTRC's catalog of online telehealth training courses. The Telehealth Resource Centers have gathered resources specific to Federally Qualified Health Centers.  Updated legislation and regulations: Keep up with regulations and proposed legislation for the states of the Northwest Region. Research: current research opportunities, research articles and survey results.

Grant Funding Opportunities Refer to the funding page on the NRTRC website for updated grant opportunities.

Success Story: NRTRC 2024 Conference: The Next Generation of Telehealth From Reactionary to Visionary!  Pre-conference surveys are still flowing in; however, feedback from attendees and presenters included the following praise: Highly relevant and informative Worth attending Provided a roadmap for how to create a telehealth program in a community setting  Changed my understanding of AI and its applications Gave me the resources needed to advance digital equity in my community

Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center “This publication was made possible by grant number UiUTH42531-01 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS”