Dear Colleagues,
We hope you're doing well and have stayed healthy & hydrated throughout the sunshine & warmer temps over the past few weeks, and have managed to relax and enjoy the summer! We're here with another edition of Northeast Connections to help you prepare for a summer filled with telehealth opportunities and events!
The early parts of summer have flown right by, and July was no different; Between Federal Policy Movement, CMS Proposals, and State level programmatic opportunities, there was lots of important considerations for telehealth afoot for all avenues of care. As you've come to expect, the NETRC team has what you need to catch up, and lots of telehealth updates to share with you this month! T his edition aims to help you digest the multitudes of things happening across the telehealth landscape; including: NETRC22 Conference Updates, NCTRC member Resources, Upcoming Webinars & Events for 2022, & so much more!
As always, please don't hesitate to reach out with your telehealth questions, success stories, or just to say hello; we hope to hear from you!
On behalf of the entire NETRC Team – Be Well,
Reid Plimpton, MPH - Project Manager
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Upcoming Webinars & Events |
Open Funding Opportunities |
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Explore the Telehealth Universe with us at NETRC 2022! |
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Prepare for Lift-off! We're just under 2 months away from our 8th annual Northeast Regional Telehealth Conference, to be held on September 29-30, 2022 in Southbridge Massachusetts!
This year's conference will be held at the Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center in Southbridge MA. With both in-person and virtual attendance options, the event will be available to meet your needs in any format, and will have the same fun & content packed agenda you've come to expect at a NETRC conference; 2 days packed full of information and use cases across the telehealth spectrum!
The NETRC 2022 Conference Agenda is shaping up to be one of our best yet, and will be continually released as available, including over 40 Speakers across 25+ Sessions, featuring speakers such as:
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REGISTRATION INFORMATION
NEW in 2022: in addition to the virtual attendance options, All in-person registrations include a second, complimentary virtual ticket for a colleague!
In person pricing
Both September 29 & 30 $275
CME Accredited Pre-Conference Workshop:(September 29 Only) $40
Half-Day Conference (September 29 Only) $110
Full-Day Conference (September 30 Only) $225
Networking Reception (September 29) Included with conference registrations
Virtual Pricing
Both September 29 & 30 $100
CME Accredited Pre-Conference Workshop:(September 29 Only) Included in registration
Half-Day Conference (September 29 Only) $50
Full-Day Conference (September 30 Only) $75
Networking Reception (September 29) Included with conference registrations
Who should attend: Clinicians (CME available), C-Suite and Administrators, Telehealth Directors/Managers/Coordinators, Payers, Government Agencies, Policy Makers, Students, and anyone interested in learning, networking, and collaborating!
Questions about the conference? Email our conference coordinator Phonse Allen-Laney at aralaney@mcdph.org
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Industry Partner and Exhibitor Opportunities |
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The Annual NETRC Conference would not be the same without our valued Industry Partners & Sponsors, and we're beyond grateful for their continued support over the years! As the conference planning continues,the NETRC Team is sure this list will grow, we'd like to express a big thanks to our current Industry Partners for their participation, and can't wait to see these folks in September!
Don't miss out on your chance to join our event, there's still plenty of space available in the Event Exhibit Hall, and we'd love to see you there! Additionally, the NETRC team is excited to be expanding and improving upon a new feature we started at our 2021 event, the "Industry Partner Pre-Conference Technology Showcase" is back, featuring participating Sponsors and Telehealth Industry Partners on a stage in the main dining room!
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Resources from around the NCTRC |
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CCHP Resources
On July 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the unpublished version of the proposals for the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and a request for comment; CCHP has developed a useful factsheet on the PFS provisions pertaining to Telehealth.
CCHP Executive Director, Mei Kwong, looks at where telehealth policy may be when the federal public health emergency is declared over. For more information, view the full video or download the PowerPoint.
View all of CCHP's updated Spring 2022 findings through:
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NEW Telemedicine for Phsyical Exams Video Now Live!
Collaboratively developed by the NETRC and colleagues at MaineHealth, this training demonstrates best practices, including:
• General tips and tricks, such as using in-home devices, having a helper, and other “rooming” considerations
• Best practices for working with an interpreter
• Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat exam
• Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Abdominal, Neurologic, Skin, Musculoskeletal, and Psychiatric exams
• Exam documentation
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TelehealthLocator Data Collection Still Open!
We are excited to share that the development of a new public facing tool, TelehealthLocator, is underway! TelehealthLocator will provide a single point of access to view and overlay gaps in access to care, broadband, and telehealth availability by service type. WIM Tracking, in collaboration with the TelehealthLocator TRCs, is working to determine what telehealth services are offered across a 24-state and 6 territory region, including the NETRC region.
We'd appreciate your assistance! Follow this link to complete an online form to identify the services your facility offers in-person and via telehealth. You will be updated when the information you provide is available in the tool.
Please contact a NETRC staffer or WIM Tracking directly with questions at the contact information below
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Upcoming Webinars and Events |
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Maine eConsult Network- Informational Webinars: Week of August 2nd, Noon EST
The Maine eConsult Network (MEeCN), with funding from Maine DHHS and facilitated by the Northeast Telehealth Resource Center (NETRC), seeks to establish a 1-year pilot program to implement electronic consultations (eConsults) between primary care and specialist clinicians to reduce disparities and improve access to specialty expertise, particularly in rural areas.
Interested pilot participants are invited to attend a presentation introducing them to the program and the partners supporting the program; Below are the times for each session:
- Tuesday, August 2nd from 12pm-1pm
- Wednesday, August 3rd from 12pm-1pm
- Thursday, August 4th from 12pm-1pm
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NCTRC Webinar - Telehealth for Older Adults: Principles, Guidelines and Lessons Learned August 18th- 2pm EST
Hosted by: Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
There are documented resources for delivering care to older adults, for telehealth best practices, for specific sites of care, but little to none that address all three aspects. To address the gap, West Health Institute is working with leading experts in older adults, telehealth and healthcare in a national collaborative. The objective of the collaborative is to accelerate progress in the adoption of telehealth that meets the needs of older adults through the development of a framework that healthcare organizations can use to develop and enhance care delivered through telehealth for older adults.
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2022 New England Rural Health Conference – Thriving Rural Communities: Navigating An Ever Evolving Landscape
November 1-2, 2022; Kilington, VT
The New England Rural Health Association (NERHA) annual conference is an opportunity for rural healthcare professionals, hospital administrators, educators, students and community leaders to learn from experts in rural topics, and to network with each other. Designed to involve all sectors that impact the health of people in rural New England, this multidisciplinary event gives attendees the opportunity to delve into specific areas of interest or participate in sessions spanning a variety of topic areas.
This event is designed to meet the needs of those interested in improving the health and well being of our region's rural communities. Over the past 20+ years, the annual conference has become one of the Association's largest events, attracting over 300 participants. We are excited to bring you to a new location at the beautiful Killington Resort in Vermont this year along with continuing to offer virtual attendance options!
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The SEARCH 2022 Call for Abstracts is NOW OPEN!
SEARCH 2022 are currently seeking Poster and Oral Presentations. Focus categories include but aren’t limited to: research, policy, education, administration and state of the art. Abstract submissions are due August 15 by 11:59pm CST. To submit your abstract for SEARCH 2022, please follow the link below
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Open Telehealth Job Opportunities |
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Maine Family Planning is seeking a Telehealth Project Manager to join their team. The Telehealth Project Manager is responsible to integrate asynchronous reproductive health care services into a network of 18 clinics, expanding care to Mainers who choose to access reproductive healthcare outside of clinical hours of operation and/or an in-person clinic setting. The Telehealth Project Manager will be responsible for all aspects of initiating this service including working with organizational leaders, clinicians, IT support, 3rd party software vendors, and outreach staff to create and deploy successful asynchronous care. This is a full-time, grant funded position for one year of employment. The Telehealth Project Manager reports to the Senior VP of Program Services.
Qualifications:
Experience and Skill Requirements: The following experience and skills are considered essential:
- One to two years of experience in project management required.
- Skilled at all aspects of project management including planning, execution, evaluation, and refinement of project as need to meet grant goals.
- Commitment to the values of reproductive justice.
- Experience providing excellent customer service to a diverse group of patients.
- Ability to work independently and remotely.
- Excellent attention to detail and ability to pivot priorities to achieve grant goals.
- Comfortable working with organization members in multiple departments including clinical, IT, billing, outreach, and development.
Education and Knowledge Requirements: The following education requirements are considered essential:
Salary: $68,000-$75,000
Benefits include health, dental, vision, life, and short/long term disability insurance. Vacation, sick and holiday pay.
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Featured Telehealth News
A larger news compilation can be found on the NETRC site here.
PROPOSED 2023 PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE...Looking Ahead
On July 7, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the unpublished version of the proposals for the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). CMS uses this process to make administrative updates to Medicare’s policy related to telehealth.
HIPAA Disclosures of Protected Health Information after Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization: Foster Swift Highlights Navigating Michigan and Federal Law
JSDSUPRA July 20. 2022 Link
After the Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) was tasked with responding to how the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) would be affected. Particularly, HHS’s Office for Civil Rights has released guidance regarding how the HIPAA Privacy Rule may or may not permit disclosure of an individual’s sexual and reproductive health information without express authorization from the patient.
What is the Difference Between Synchronous Telehealth vs Asynchronous Telehealth?
Telehealth.org July 20, 2022 Link
Synchronous telehealth occurs when real-time technology allows the patient or client to interact with a practitioner using a telephone or video connection — or a combination of both. Providers and patients communicate directly, mimicking real-time interactions where the parties converse as they would in person.
Most Americans Support Expansion of Asynchronous Telehealth Options
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 21, 2022 Link
A new survey shows that a majority of Americans support legislation that would expand asynchronous telehealth, thereby increasing access to care, particularly mental healthcare.
Pediatric Virtual Visits: A New Approach to Pediatric Mental Health Service
Telehealth.org July 21, 2022 Link
Telehealth can help healthcare providers expand their pediatric mental health services to clients and patients across the US through pediatric virtual visits and pediatric telemedicine. Mental health issues in children, adolescents, and young adults have become a significant cause of concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report, pediatric mental health-related visits increased 24% in just seven months among children between 5 and 11 years old.
Northern Health to expand virtual ED access to COVID-19, aged care patients
HealthcareItNews July 21, 2022 Link
This will help free up ambulances and hospitals that are currently overwhelmed with rising COVID-19 cases.
92% of Consumers Report Convenience #1 Consideration when Choosing A Health Professional
Telehealth.org July 21, 2022 Link
According to a recent report, healthcare professionals believe virtual visits have increased patients’ and clients’ interest in telehealth adoption. CVS Health conducted a survey, Health Care Insights Study 2022, to understand health providers’ and consumers’ health care experience during COVID-19. They were interested in understanding which barriers may hinder their ability to improve digital health online service outcomes. CVS surveyed 1000 adults who answered 69 questions. They also surveyed 400 healthcare providers, who answered 42 questions. According to Adult Data 2022, 19.86% of American adults report mental health illnesses, which translates into nearly 50 million Americans. The CVS survey suggests that virtual care can help reduce the effect of this epidemic.
The Biden Administration’s Guidance on Risks to Privacy of Reproductive Health Information Post-Dobbs
JDSUPRA July 21, 2022 Link
Following the Supreme Court’s ruling overturning Roe v. Wade in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the Biden Administration has outlined a framework for federal executive action designed to protect access to reproductive health care. On July 8, 2022, President Biden issued an Executive Order Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services (the “Executive Order”) directing federal agencies, including the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to take various steps to address “this health crisis.”1
DOJ Files Criminal Charges in Telemedicine Fraud Schemes Totaling $1.2B
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 22, 2022 Link
Thirty-six defendants were charged in the schemes, which involved telehealth providers ordering unnecessary genetic tests and durable medical equipment in exchange for kickbacks.
White House Office on National Drug Policy: Telehealth Prescribing for Substance Use Disorders
Telehealth.org July 21, 2022 Link
The White House Office on National Drug Policy (ONDCP) supports permanent telehealth prescribing for people with Substance Use Disorders (SUD), according to the issued guidance “ Telehealth and Substance Use Disorder Services in the Era of Covid-19: Review and Recommendations” published on June 22, 2022.
Roundup: Monash Health sets up virtual clinic for blood pressure management and more briefs
HealthcareItNews July 22, 2022 Link
Also, the Australian government is subsidising the cost of teleconsultation for the prescription of COVID-19 antiviral medications.
Protecting Health Information Post Roe – Part 2: Steps for Health Care Providers
JDSUPRA July 22, 2022 Link
State laws that restrict or criminalize abortions will require significant amounts of health information to enforce, putting new pressure on health care providers caught in the middle of competing obligations to their patients and to regulatory and law enforcement authorities making lawful requests for this information.
Digital Therapeutics Provide Many Benefits, But Threats, Challenges Remain
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 25, 2022 Link
Research shows that the growth of digital therapeutics provides many benefits and opportunities for patient care, but organizations must consider the potential drawbacks.
MaineHealth turned a COVID-19 grant into a permanent telehealth program
HealthCareITNews July 25, 2022 Link
"There is now a robust, extensive and dynamic virtual care option for patients that did not exist prior to the pandemic," its IT director of telehealth reports.
AHA Says Senate Should Codify Virtual Mental Health in Telehealth
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 25, 2022 Link
AHA sent the Senate Finance Committee a letter offering constructive opinions, like adding virtual mental health to telehealth plans.
ATA Displays Gratitude for the Expansion of PHE Flexibilities
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 25, 2022 Link
ATA and ATA Action shared high levels of support for new telehealth legislation supporting the expansion of PHE flexibilities.
Reproductive Healthcare Issues for Employers Series, Part 3: HHS Guidance on HIPAA and Other Privacy Issues
JDSUPRA July 25, 2022 Link
After the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overruling the constitutionally protected right to an abortion, federal agencies have issued guidance intended to help protect the privacy of patients. Employers should carefully consider this guidance because it impacts their responsibilities as a sponsor of a group health plan and the privacy rights of their employees.
OIG FRAUD ALERT: Focuses on Purported Telemedicine Company Practices, Cautions Practitioners
Citing a significant increase in fraud schemes, on July 20th the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a special fraud alert to warn providers of questionable telemedicine company practices.
Smartphone App Can Detect Skin Cancer Among Older People
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 27, 2022 Link
Stanford Health researchers found that a smartphone app can help providers detect skin cancer among older people.
How telehealth can help solve the physician specialist shortage
HealthCareITNews July 27, 2022 Link
Dr. Chris Gallagher, a cardiologist and CEO of SOC Telemed, sees "the power of telemedicine to change patients' lives and make a real difference to hospitals' bottom lines."
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Recommended Telehealth Research/Resources
Check out the complete Telehealth Library Database on the NETRC site here.
Encouraging Health Information Technology Adoption in Behavioral Health: Recommendations Report
'Red Flags' and 'Red Tape': Telehealth and pharmacy-level barriers to buprenorphine in the United States
Textor. L, et. al, 2022. Link
Evaluation of Mental Health Mobile Applications
Telehealth for Rural Areas
Telehealth.HHS.gov, 2022. Link
Telehealth for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
Telehealth.HHS.gov, 2022. Link
Power and Participation: How Community Health Centers Address the Determinants of the Social Determinants of Health
Cole M., Jolliffe M, Gottlieb B., MassGeneral Brigham Hospital, 2022. Link
Considerations for Fostering an Antiracist and Equitable Telehealth Enviornment
American Academy of Pediatrics, 2022. Link
Telehealth and Substance Use Disorder Services in the Era of COVID-19: Review and Recommendations
Office of National Drug Control and Policy, 2022. Link
HHS Guidance on HIPAA and Audio-Only Telehealth
US Health and Human Services, US Office of Civil Rights, 2022. Link
TTAC 2022 Telehealth Technology Survey Results
National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center, 2022. Link
USDA Rural Placemaking Digital Toolkit
USDA, University of Kentucky, 2022. Link
Billing for Telehealth Encounters: An Introductory Guide on Medicare Fee-For-Service
Center for Connected Health Policy, 2022. Link
Addressing Virtual Care Disparities for Patients with Limited English Proficiency Digital Inclusion as Health Care- Supporting Health Care Equity with Digital Infrastructure Initiatives
Rodriguez, J.A., Shachar, C., Bates, D.W., 2022. Link
Consumer Experience Trends in Healthcare 2021
Addressing Virtual Care Disparities for Patients with Limited English Proficiency
Tan-McGrory, A. Schwamm, L., et. al. 2022. Link
Remote Monitoring of Patient- and Family-Generated Health Data in Pediatrics
Foster, C., Schinasi, D, et. al. 2022. Link
NETRC Regional Telehealth Legislation and Regulation Tracker- Center for Connected Health Policy, 2022 Link
University of New Hampshire TelePractice Center (TPC) TelePractice Training Videos- UNH TPC 2021 Link
FQHC Telehealth Playbook- MA FQHC Telehealth Consortium; 2021 Link
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The Northeast Telehealth Resource Center has been made possible by grant numbers G22RH30352 and 1 U1UTH42523‐01‐00 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth: HRSA / DHHS. |
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