This quarterly communication, for the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) Telehealth Network Grant Program (TNGP) and Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program (EB TNP) grantees, is brought to you by the technical assistance team of the Georgia Health Policy Center and CSI Solutions.
GRANTEE SPOTLIGHTS
The Georgia Health Policy Center recently spoke to Frances Scappaticci, director of nursing and performance improvement at Ben Archer Health Center, about participation in the Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program. 
The Georgia Health Policy Center recently spoke with Cody Mullen, Ph.D., senior advisor with the Indiana Rural Health Association and a clinical associate professor at Purdue University, about participation in the Telehealth Network Grant Program. 
PROGRAM-SPECIFIC UPDATES
A reminder to join us for a webinar tomorrow for both Telehealth Network Grant Program (TNGP) and Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program (EB TNP) grantees.  

Webinar: Telehealth Network Programs: Connecting to Resources and Supports to Advance Telehealth Initiatives 
Thursday, December 2, 2021, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET 
Join us to connect with and hear from some of the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA)-supported organizations and initiatives that provide a range of resources and expertise to assist you in the implementation of your telehealth projects. Speakers from the Rural Health Information Hub, the National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, and Rural Telementoring Training Center will share an overview of their initiatives, expertise, resources, and tools available for you to apply in support of your telehealth efforts. 

Registration is required. Register via the original email announcement or here. 

Communities of Practice (Peer Groups) 
Thank you to all the TNGP and EB TNP grantees that recently participated in the Community of Practice groups that have been taking place since late October. These are based on topic areas of interest to you and are an opportunity to connect with and learn from your grantee peers. Groups for both programs will be starting back up in early 2022 so stay tuned for the upcoming schedule from your TA Team member facilitators who lead each group. 

Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT) Grantee Directory 
Each year, an updated OAT Grantee Directory is released that provides an overview and brief description of each of the primary grant programs funded by OAT. In the coming weeks, be on the lookout for the updated 2021 version which includes new cohorts of existing grant programs along with new ones like the Telehealth Broadband Pilot (TBP) Program. Once ready it will be shared with all grantees and posted to our grantee site, www.ruralhealthlink.org.  
 
Telehealth Network Grant Program (TNGP) 

Webinar: Surviving and Thriving: Managing Pandemic Stress & Building Resiliency 
Wednesday, December 8, 2021, from 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. ET 
Building your TNGP program involves many different types of stakeholders, which includes involving staff of emergency departments, inpatient units, clinics, and ambulances, as well as several specialists. Many of these stakeholders are on the front lines of care delivery, and during the COVID-19 pandemic many have struggled under the stress of high patient volumes, disease intensity, staff turnover, understaffing, and compliance with new mandates. This webinar will address the psychological first aid that we can offer these stakeholders as well as the psychological PPE that can help prepare all of us for any future crisis.   

Please register via the original email announcement or by clicking here. 

Evidence-Based Telehealth Network Program (EB TNP) 

Webinar: What’s New in Telehealth Policy & Reimbursement: Updates for EB TNP Grantees 
Wednesday, December 15, 2021, from 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. ET 
Telehealth adoption and utilization has continued to expand throughout the pandemic within the context of a rapidly changing and evolving policy environment, bringing numerous opportunities for telehealth programs as well as challenges in keeping abreast of all the changes. This webinar will look at the national policy landscape, billing and reimbursement opportunities, and implications and opportunities for your EB TNP telehealth-related efforts now and moving forward. 

Please register via the original email announcement or by clicking here. 
ARTICLES

In rural communities, there are gaps in describing the design and effectiveness of technology interventions for treating diseases and addressing determinants of health. The aim of this study is to evaluate literature on current applications, therapeutic areas, and outcomes of telehealth interventions in rural communities in the United States. A narrative review of studies published on PubMed from January 2017 to December 2020 was conducted. Key search terms included telehealth, telemedicine, rural, and outcomes. Telehealth models were associated with positive outcomes for patients and health care professionals, suggesting these models are feasible and can be effective.  

The full article can be accessed here.


This cross-sectional study of 10.4 million rural Medicare beneficiaries found sustained annual compound growth in telemedicine use among rural beneficiaries covered by Medicare in 2010 to 2019, especially for care provided by nurse practitioners and other nonphysician clinicians. Medicare beneficiaries with serious mental illness (e.g., bipolar disorder) used a disproportionate share of all telemedicine visits, with more than 1 in 10 beneficiaries using telemedicine annually in 891 counties in the US. These findings indicate that telemedicine use grew rapidly before the COVID-19 pandemic among Medicare beneficiaries with mental health conditions; the model of telemedicine provided in the local health care setting before 2020 may be a viable modality for continued use in rural communities.  

The full article can be accessed here.


Since the onset of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many US clinics have shifted some or all of their practice from in-person to virtual visits. In this study, the authors assessed the use of telehealth among primary care and specialty clinics, by targeting healthcare administrators via multiple channels. Using an online survey, they assessed the use of, barriers to, and reimbursement for telehealth. Respondents included clinic administrators (chief executive officers, vice presidents, directors, and senior-level managers). Their findings highlight the adaptability of clinics to quickly transition and adopt telehealth. Uncertainty about reimbursement and policy changes may make the shift temporal, however.  

The full article can be accessed here.


Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent mental health problem with serious adverse consequences for affected women and their infants. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of telehealth interventions in reducing depressive symptoms and anxiety in women with PPD. PubMed, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CNKI, and Wanfang were electronically searched to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effectiveness of telehealth interventions for women with PPD from inception to February 28, 2021. The Edinburgh Post-Natal Depression Scale and anxiety scores were significantly lower in the telehealth group compared with the control group. Significant subgroup differences were found in depressive symptoms according to the severity of PPD, telehealth technology, specific therapy, and follow-up time. Telehealth interventions could effectively reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety in women with PPD.  

The full article can be accessed here.
NEWS, RESOURCES, AND OTHER UPDATES
The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) has announced a funding opportunity of up to $100,000 to supports the planning and development of integrated health care networks seeking to expand access and improve quality of care in rural communities. HRSA plans to award 20 grants to rural communities as part of this funding opportunity. Applications are due January 28, 2022. 

Click here for more information 

California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC) published a new three-part blog series exploring the many challenges and opportunities providers face in adapting to offer virtual social determinants of health support. Visit the website to read the full blogs which include tips and considerations for providers in the field. Topics covered include: 

  • Part 1: Telehealth, COVID-19, and Social Determinants of Health: Learning from the Shift to Virtual Care  
  • Part 2: Telehealth, COVID-19, and Social Determinants of Health: Trauma Informed Care and Intimate Partner Violence  
  • Part 3: Telehealth, COVID-19, and Social Determinants of Health: Using Technology to Advance Social Care 

Click here to access the three-part blog series. 

The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has released their bi-annual summary report of the status of telehealth policies across the United States. This analysis and summary shows the changes that have taken place in state telehealth policy between the initial release of CCHP’s Policy Finder in Spring 2021 and Fall 2021. This summary offers policymakers, health advocates, and other interested health care professionals an overview of telehealth policy trends throughout the nation.  

Click here to access the full report. 

The nearly 15 percent of the population living in rural communities includes the nation’s oldest and sickest patients. The Biden administration is investing more funding in telemedicine which will allow more medical appointments to take place via video to improve their access to care. The Department of Health and Human Services announced that it was distributing nearly $20 million to strengthen telehealth services. 

Click here to read the full article. 

This fact sheet provides recommendations for providers when treating patients with disabilities via telehealth. It includes both general recommendations for providers as well as specific tips when treating patients who are deaf or have hearing loss, patients who are blind or have vision loss, and patients with physical/developmental disabilities. 

Click here to access the fact sheet. 
UPCOMING EVENTS 

December 5-8, 2021 
Please join the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Forum for this year’s fully virtual conference featuring 125 real-world, practical sessions with speakers from a range of organizations, including Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy. Attendees will have access to nine forum topic tracks including equity; addressing value, cost, and quality; building improvement capacity; improvement science; population health; and more. 

December 6-8, 2021, Watergate Hotel in Washington, DC 
Please join the ATA EDGE Policy Conference, “Telehealth at a Policy Tipping Point: Maintaining Public Policy Momentum,” in Washington, DC, December 6-8, 2021. This year’s conference is focused on finding solutions and creating a path forward as uncertainty remains in telehealth access, availability, and reimbursement in the year ahead. 

March 22-23, 2022 
Please join Xtelligent Healthcare Media as they host a virtual summit on creating a hybrid healthcare strategy with virtual care. This two-day event will delve into the many factors that go into telehealth design, development, and implementation. We’ll examine the policies and reimbursement guidelines developed by both state and federal lawmakers and hear from health systems large and small as they launch new programs and create sound strategies for scalability and sustainability.