Telehealth sustainability requires a willingness to adapt to new ideas
mHealth Intelligence, June 25, 2020
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When its three-year telehealth pilot ended and the grant money ran out, Long Island Select Healthcare took stock of its options and decided to change its approach to connected health. The leaders for this New York program presented on their telehealth strategies for chronic care management and remote patient monitoring at the ongoing joint virtual conference put on by the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center and the Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center..
CMS moves to make COVID-19 home health telehealth expansion permanent
mHealth Intelligence, June 26, 2020
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is proposing to make telehealth coverage enacted during the COVID-19 crisis permanent for home health care providers - though providers still won't be reimbursed.
COVID-19 concerns add value to school-based telehealth programs
mHealth Intelligence, June 24, 2020
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School may not be in session, but telehealth programs across the nation are busy addressing the needs of students stuck at home during the pandemic - including a growing number in need of mental health counseling.
Lawmakers want a full study of telehealth during the COVID-19 crisis
mHealth Intelligence, June 22, 2020
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A bill before Congress calls on the Health and Human Services Department and the Government Accountability Office to produce separate studies on how telehealth has been used to address the coronavirus pandemic.
Sony survey shows support for doctors prescribing mhealth devices
mHealth Intelligence, June 22, 2020
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The survey finds that patients living with a chronic condition would do better if they had an mHealth device to manage their health at home - but they want those devices to come from their doctor.
Telehealth is working, let’s keep it that way
Commonwealth, June 20, 2020
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The Patients First Act, recently filed in the Massachusetts Senate, requires insurance carriers, including MassHealth, to cover telehealth services in any instance where the equivalent in-person service is covered. The bill also embraces an expansive definition of telehealth services, including care through audio-only telephone calls to assist those patients who may not have access to a smart phone, tablet, or computer.
New York OKs telehealth coverage for audio-only phone services
mHealth Intelligence, June 18, 2020
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New York is the latest to approve expanded telehealth coverage for audio-only phone calls between a provider and patient, noting they give doctors more opportunities to extend care to underserved populations.
$2 million grant allows for expanded care for mental health and substance use
VermontBiz, June 18, 2020
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Vermont has received a $2 million federal emergency grant to make sure people with mental health and substance use disorders can access care during the COVID-19 pandemic. Telehealth is significant part of the proposed strategies.
VA sees a surge in veterans using telehealth to access healthcare
mHealth Intelligence, June 17, 2020
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Due to the COVID-19 emergency, veterans are logging onto the VA Video Connect app more than 120,000 times a week to access care, a 1,000 percent increase in traffic compared to a typical three-month span.
FCC approves 11th set of COVID-19 telehealth program applications
FOX10, June 17, 2020
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The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition Bureau today approved an additional 62 funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Grantees in the northeast include: Brookline Community Mental Health Center (MA), Care Plus (NJ), Community Health Access Network (NH), Dimock Community Health Center (MA), Family and Children’s Services (NJ), Flushing Clinic (NY), AdChoices
Henry J. Austin Health Center (NJ), Hospital for Special Surgery (NY), Maimonides Medical Center (NY), Morristown Medical Center (NJ), Northern NY Rural Behavioral Health Institute (NY), SERV Behavioral Health System (NJ), Silvercrest Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation (NY), Sojourns Community Clinic (VT).
Regulatory actions impacting health insurers and managed care companies in response to COVID-19
JD Supra, June 17, 2020
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To help organizations stay on top of these regulatory changes affecting practice rules and reimbursement during the pandemic, this organization summarizes major regulatory actions in each state and assembled useful resources, guidance and notifications released by state regulators.
Therapy moves to video chat
The Keene Sentinel, June 17, 2020
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As COVID-19 has added stress and anxiety to people’s lives in recent months, access to mental-health services and supports has changed to telehealth, often resulting in improved access. For West Central Behavioral Health the ability to connect with a therapist online also has reduced the no-show rate.
AMHC Successfully Uses Telemedicine during COVID-19
WAGM-TV (Presque Isle, ME), June 17, 2020
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Community health clinics across the United States report a 43% drop in the number of client visits during the quarantine. However, Aroostook Mental Health Services in remote rural Caribou, ME, has ramped up the use of technology during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased the number of client visits by 20%.
Delivering sexual, reproductive healthcare in NH during pandemic
Manchester Ink Link (NH), June 16, 2020
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The coronavirus pandemic has changed how sexual and reproductive healthcare is delivered in New Hampshire. Some services, including abortions, are now delivered partially via telehealth, while other services, including sexually-transmitted disease (STD) testing and PrEP, a regiment to prevent HIV transmissions, have seen a significant decrease in demand.
Telehealth resource centers nationwide aid providers at no cost
Healthcare IT News, June 17, 2020
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The 14 federally funded regional TRCs have seen an enormous uptick in requests for assistance since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The story includes quotes from Danielle Louder of NETRC as a follow-up to a webinar presentation with the MidAtlantic Telehealth Resource Center sponsored by HIMSS.
mHealth platforms for chronic care get the green light from the FDA
mHealth Intelligence, June 16, 2020
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Digital therapeutic tools are in the spotlight this week, thanks to the FDA's approval of an mHealth platform for treatment of children with ADHD and Breakthrough Device Designation for a stroke treatment combining sensors and music therapy.
Experts weigh in on post-COVID-19 telehealth rules and policies
mHealth Intelligence, June 15, 2020
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Congress and CMS are being inundated with requests to make permanent telehealth guidelines enacted to expand coverage during the coronavirus pandemic. Here's a rundown of what they're requesting.
What sort of staying power does telehealth really have?
Healthcare IT News, June 15, 2020
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The coronavirus pandemic has acted as an "unexpected experiment" for telehealth, but despite its huge promise and the hopes of many that it will become the new normal, experts say it's difficult to predict what's next.
Telehealth will continue to grow after coronavirus pandemic
mHealth Intelligence, June 12, 2020
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The coronavirus pandemic sparked the growth of telehealth across the healthcare industry. This growth will continue after the pandemic, industry experts said at the online Value-Based Care Summit Telehealth20
.
New bill would codify Medicare reimbursement for telehealth services
Healthcare IT News, June 12, 2020
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The bipartisan HEALTH Act would make permanent Medicare payments for telehealth services at federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics.
Telehealth shows promise for fostering better doc-patient relationships
Healthcare IT News, June 11, 2020
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In a study from Mayo Clinic Proceedings, NYU Langone and Doctor on Demand show how patients are finding value in virtual care, with many citing a rewarding rapport with their provider.
The case for integrating telemedicine education into medical curriculums
MobiHealth News, June 11, 2020
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The telehealth training programs at the Medical University of South Carolina are profiles. Across a number of different specialties, students and practitioners can put practical telehealth skills to use and gain an emphasis on collaboration for the rest of their careers.
Zoom fatigue: what you can do about it
Telebehavioral Health Institute Blog, June 11, 2020
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Videoconferencing fatigue occurs among many people who are engaged for long periods in delivering telehealth. This article considers the range of factors that can contribute to “Zoom fatigue” and offers suggestions for how it can be mitigated.
The potential security crisis presented by rapid telehealth rollouts
Healthcare IT News, June 10, 2020
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A security expert details the extra risks from hackers due to the lax precautions taken with digital health and telehealth adoption during the pandemic and advises health systems and consumers that it is not too late to work on implementing best practices.
Virtual rounding led to humanized patient experience measures
Patient Engagement HIT, June 8, 2020
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At the University of Chicago medical system, implementation of a virtual patient rounding system for hospitalized patients had the result of enhancing the sense of human connectivity between patients and providers.
VA expands telehealth services for veterans living with cancer
mHealth Intelligence, June 8, 2020
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The Department of Veterans Affairs is using a $4.5 million grant from the Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation to expand its teleoncology platform, giving veterans virtual access to genetic testing and precision cancer care.
As telehealth becomes the new normal, NCQA updates quality measures
Healthcare IT News, June 5, 2020
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More than three-dozen HEDIS measures have been adjusted to reflect new telemedicine services in response to COVID-19 and better align with the realities of virtual care delivery.
FTC weighs in on expanding CMS telehealth coverage beyond COVID-19
mHealth Intelligence, June 5, 2020
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The Federal Trade Commission has offered its views on several proposals to expand Medicare and Medicaid coverage for telehealth services after the COVID-19 emergency is over.
Key strategies for remote chronic disease management
Patient Engagement HIT, June 1, 2020
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As patients continue to avoid in-person care, providers need to pivot to remote chronic disease management to drive positive health outcomes. The effectiveness of programs of the Veterans Health Administration are profiled.
FCC awards COVID-19 telehealth program funding to another 53 providers
mHealth Intelligence, June 4, 2020
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The ninth group of healthcare providers brings the total to almost 240 locations in 41 states and Washington DC, accounting for almost $85 million of the $200 billion fund set aside for telehealth development and expansion. Awards in northeast include: CT—2; NJ—1; NY—7; VT--1
HHS, CMS offer more support for COVID-19 telehealth adoption, expansion
mHealth Intelligence, June 4, 2020
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The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is investing another $250 million in CARES Act funding to help health systems and hospitals develop telehealth programs, while CMS has announced plans to adjust payment and service delivery models.
Community health centers need a telehealth strategy, resources to survive
mHealth Intelligence, June 3, 2020
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A new Health Affairs article notes how community health centers have struggled to use telehealth before and during COVID-19, and offers advice to help CHCs embrace connected health in the future.
Congress Eyes HHS Analysis of Telehealth During COVID-19 Crisis
mHealth Intelligence, June 3, 2020
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A bill introduced this week on Capitol Hill would require the Health and Human Services Department to study how telehealth has been used during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a report due back one year after the emergency ends.
How The rapid shift to telehealth leaves many community health centers behind during the COVID-19 pandemic
Health Affairs Blog, June 2, 2020
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Without adequate telehealth capacity and support, many CHCs will be left without means of adapting telehealth for the continuous preventive and chronic disease care that can keep communities healthy and out of the hospital. Proper personnel with appropriate training are key to a high-functioning telehealth system along with support from information technology specialists; additionally, CHCs need ancillary systems in place to allow for the effective use of phone and video visits.
Johns Hopkins, UMMC Receive FCC COVID-19 Telehealth Program Funding
mHealth Intelligence, May 29, 2020
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The two health systems are among 53 providers included in the latest round of awards from the Federal Communications Commission’s telehealth grant program, which has so far earmarked $68.22 million for 185 providers in 38 states and Washington DC. Awards in northeast include: CT—1; MA—2; ME—2; NJ—3; NY—12.
Researchers question value of telehealth in substance abuse treatment
mHealth Intelligence, May 29, 2020
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Some prominent telehealth researchers at the RAND Corporation have suggested that telehealth hasn't yet proven its value in substance abuse treatment, and that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits for certain populations.
New COVID-19 stroke guidelines stress support for telehealth, mHealth
mHealth Intelligence, May 28, 2020
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New guidelines for stroke triage published in the AHA's Stroke journal call on first responders to use telehealth and mHealth to screen and diagnose patients and ensure speedy transport to the right care facility.
Rhode Island lawmakers look to make telehealth coverage permanent
mHealth Intelligence, May 28, 2020
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A bill making its way through the State Senate would require payers in the state to permanently cover telehealth services - including audio-only phone calls and care delivered to the patient's home.
Surveys suggest seniors aren’t using telehealth during COVID-19 crisis
mHealth Intelligence, May 27, 2020
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Telehealth use by seniors during the coronavirus pandemic is still low, according to a pair of surveys, even though seniors have access to the technology and those who are using telehealth are giving it high marks.
Medicare members using telehealth grew 120 times in early weeks of COVID-19 as regulations
eased
Healthcare Dive, May 27, 2020
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The number of Medicare beneficiaries using telehealth skyrocketed in the early weeks of the pandemic as the Trump administration relaxed regulations to virtual care.
CVS head of specialty pharmacy sees future of healthcare at home after Covid-19
MedCity News, May 26, 2020
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CVS Health’s specialty pharmacy head shared how the pharmacy chain is caring for patients remotely during Covid-19. He expects to see more in-home care after the pandemic.
Lawmakers push to extend telehealth freedoms past the COVID-19 emergency
mHealth Intelligence, May 26, 2020
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More than 30 members of Congress are asking Congressional leadership to extend regulatory freedoms for telehealth in mental health settings past the COVID-19 emergency.
CMS finalizes telehealth reimbursement for MA Plans, ESRD patients
mHealth Intelligence, May 22, 2020
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has issued a final rule on expanded telehealth coverage for members in Medicare Advantage plans and those living with end-stage renal disease.
CMS expands telehealth options for Medicare Advantage plans
MedCity News, May 22, 2020
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A final rule published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Friday would allows Medicare Advantage plans to cover more specialties through telehealth.
Telehealth gives Los Angeles LGBT center a new platform to deliver care
mHealth Intelligence, May 21, 2020
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Pressed by the COVID-19 pandemic to embrace telehealth, the Los Angeles LGBT Center is now finding a comfort zone with virtual care that will likely show benefits well after the current crisis has passed.
Psychiatrists 'pleasantly surprised' with transition to telemedicine
Healthcare IT News, May 13, 2020
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Though mental health professionals say they're mostly pleased with the rapid shift to phone or video services, most plan to return to in-person care once the dangers from COVID-19 have subsided.
