Dear Colleagues,
We hope you're doing well and are preparing for a relaxing, fun-filled Independence Day weekend! 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 within May and June 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 3 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 Materials will be continually released as available, including:
- Industry Partner Sponsorship Opportunities,
- Full Event Agenda,
- and More!
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EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION EXTENDED!
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 $200
CME Accredited Pre-Conference Workshop:(September 29 Only) $40
Half-Day Conference (September 29 Only) $100
Full-Day Conference (September 30 Only) $150
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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KEYNOTE SPEAKER ANNOUNCED |
Alan Morgan, MPA | CEO, National Rural Health Association
Recognized as among the top 100 most influential people in healthcare by Modern Healthcare Magazine, Alan Morgan serves as Chief Executive Officer for the National Rural Health Association. He has more than 31 years experience in health policy at the state and federal level, and is one of the nation’s leading experts on rural health policy.
Mr. Morgan served as a contributing author for the publications “The Handbook of Rural Aging,” “Rural Populations and Health,” and for the publication “Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care.”
In addition, his health policy articles have been published in: The American Journal of Clinical Medicine, The Journal of Rural Health, The Journal of Cardiovascular Management, The Journal of Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology, Cardiac Electrophysiology Review, and in Laboratory Medicine.
Mr. Morgan served as staff for former US Congressman Dick Nichols and former Kansas Governor Mike Hayden. Additionally, his past experience includes tenures as a health care lobbyist for the American Society of Clinical Pathologists, the Heart Rhythm Society, and for VHA Inc.
He holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from University of Kansas, and a master's degree in public administration from George Mason University. The NETRC Team is thrilled to have Mr. Morgan joining us, and we hope you join us!
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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 gets into full swing, the NETRC Team is excited to see who will join us this year, and can't wait to see you all 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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ICYMI: State Telehealth Laws and Medicaid Program Policies Spring 2022
View all of CCHP's updated Spring 2022 findings through:
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Latest Policy Developments in CCHP’s Telehealth Policy Finder and Policy Trends Map
CCHP’s Policy Finder look-up tool and Policy Trend Maps were again updated in April based on the latest information from our ongoing state telehealth policy tracking. The latest states to be updated included Delaware, Iowa, Indiana, New York, North Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.
For more information click here
CCHP will continue tracking and providing updates on the latest in federal telehealth policy activity. All bills, including any status changes, can always be found on CCHP’s pending federal legislation and regulation web page.
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TelehealthLocator Data Collection Now Live!
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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NEW TelehealthClassroom Course Now Live!
TelehealthClassroom now has a new 2-part course called “Achieving Quality in Telehealth: Practical Resources for Providers” on Telehealth Classroom. Informed by regional and national subject matter experts and stakeholders, this eLearning module was designed for providers to improve and maintain quality in audio and video telehealth visits. CME and CEU coming soon.
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Upcoming Webinars and Events |
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Post-PHE State Telehealth Policy Trends: What Does the Permanent Policy Landscape Look Like?
July 13th, 2022- 12pm EST
In a new webinar, Manatt Health, the American Medical Association (AMA) and a panel of state leaders discuss how that long-term perspective is driving state policymaking for the use, coverage and payment of telehealth in the future.
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Virtual Checkup: How Telehealth Brings Parkinson's Care to You
July 21st, 2022- 2pm EST
In this webinar, expert panelists will discuss telehealth as an option for people with Parkinson’s disease. We’ll cover access and availability of telehealth and how to make the most of a virtual visit with a doctor or other health care provider. We’ll also talk about the impact of telehealth on research. Bring your questions for our experts!
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NCTRC Webinar - Possible Futures: Telehealth During and After the Pandemic
July 21st, 2pm EST
Hosted by: Pacific Basin Telehealth Resource Center
Presented by: Matthew Koenig, MD - Telemedicine Director/Neurology Specialist
Dr. Matthew Koenig is a Neurointensivist at the Queen's Medical Center (QMC). QMC is one of Hawaii's largest health care systems. Dr. Koenig serves as the Medical Director of Telehealth for QMC and is an Associate Professor of Medicine with the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. Dr. Koenig led the development of the Hawaii Telestroke network which has saved many lives and millions of dollars. Dr. Koenig has been a strong advocate for telehealth prior to the pandemic and a leader guiding the way for the use of technology throughout this public health emergency. Dr. Koenig will present his experiences as well as his future vision of telehealth.
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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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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.
Interstate Telehealth Use Data Seeks to Inform State Licensure Policies
A recent article in Health Affairs, titled Interstate Telehealth Use by Medicare Beneficiaries, examined the data behind interstate telehealth use before and after COVID-19 licensure waivers.
New Toolkit Aims to Support Effective Virtual-First Care Transitions
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 28, 2022 Link
The Digital Medicine Society and American Telemedicine Association have developed a new toolkit to support the integration of virtual and in-person healthcare.
How remote patient monitoring improves care, saves money for chronic care
HealthcareITNews June 28, 2022 Link
Half the population has at least one chronic disease. Care for these sick patients is costly. RPM has the potential to help.
Improving rural care and health equity with telemedicine
HealthcareITNews June 27, 2022 Link
Healthcare IT News talks with a telehealth expert on the benefits and challenges of virtual care for rural patients.
NY Health System to Use Digital Platform to Inform Teenagers of Diabetes Risks
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 27, 2022 Link
Mount Sinai Health System is working with mPulse Mobile to create a health program delivered via a digital solution that will inform teenagers of diabetes risks.
STUDY: TELEHEALTH DOESN'T LEAD TO EXCESSIVE HEALTHCARE USE
healthleaders June 27,2022 Link
Researchers at the University of Michigan, analyzing Medicare data through 2021, are reporting that the traditional Medicare population used telehealth during the pandemic to access care, but they haven't been overusing the platform.
Telehealth Use Remained Steady in 2021 for Medicare Beneficiaries
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 27, 2022 Link
Although the future of telehealth flexibilities remains uncertain, researchers found that telehealth use was steady and did not lead to a spike in total visits among Medicare beneficiaries in 2021.
Digital abortion providers, doctors brace for complex legal landscape after SCOTUS ruling
FIERCE Healthcare June 27, 2022 Link
Even just a few hours after the Supreme Court released its decision to overturn the legal right to an abortion in the U.S., digital abortion providers were gearing up to expand their services in anticipation of surging demand.
Patients Report Better Telehealth Experiences Than Providers
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 24, 2022 Link
Patient experience with telehealth appears to be better than provider experience, with only 15 percent of patients saying they had a difficult time obtaining the care they expected, a new report shows.
Organizations Collaborate to Assess Impact of Virtual Care on COPD Readmissions
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 24, 2022 Link
Hartford HealthCare and Wellinks are joining forces to conduct the POWER study, which will examine the impact of a virtual management solution on readmissions for patients with COPD.
HHS & HRSA Award $64 Million to Expand Telehealth Innovation in Community Health Centers & Rural & Underserved Communities
Telehealth.org June 23, 2022 Link
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), has awarded nearly $55 million to 29 HRSA-funded health centers to increase health care access and quality for underserved populations through virtual care such as: Telehealth, Remote patient monitoring; Digital patient tools, and Health information technology platforms.
Connected Health Initiative Urges CMS to Support mHealth Innovation in IPPS
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 23, 2022 Link
The Connected Health Initiative sent a letter to CMS expressing support for its proposed IPPS but urged the agency to bolster mobile health innovation and limit associated burdens.
Audio-Only Telehealth HIPAA Guidance Issued: Practitioner Update
Telehealth.org June 23, 2022 Link
Covered health care providers increasingly use remote communication technologies to provide audio-only telehealth. New audio-only HIPAA privacy guidance was issued on 6/13/22 by the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR).
Prescribing Controlled Substances Across State Lines – What to Expect After Telehealth Waiver Expiration
Telehealth.org June 23, 2022 Link
Before the pandemic, clinicians prescribing controlled substances over state lines had to have a license in each state where they prescribed telehealth-controlled substances. This prohibition has roots in The Ryan Haight Act, which has prohibited health care providers from prescribing controlled substances over state lines since 2009.
OCR CLARIFIES POST-PHE HIPPA COMPLIANCE FOR AUDIO-ONLY TELEHEALTH
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently released guidance on the use of remote communication technologies for audio-only telehealth to assist health care providers and health plans, or covered entities, bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules (HIPAA Rules).
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Recommended Telehealth Research/Resources
Check out the complete Telehealth Library Database on the NETRC site here.
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
Strategic Investments in Telehealth and Digital Tools for Health Centers, National Association of Community Health Centers & Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center. 2021. Link
State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit: Policy Considerations for States Expanding Use of Telehealth Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services. 2021. Link
Consumer Engagement in Health Care 2021 Survey Results Employee Benefit Research Institute. 2021. Link
Telemedicine: Ensuring Safe, Equitable, Person-Centered Virtual Care- Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), 2021 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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