As a result of the COVID-19 public health emergency, telehealth has evolved and will continue to evolve. As part of this evolution, CMS finalized a rule that expands Medicare coverage for telehealth services. This final rule, along with other new rules and waivers by the federal government, state governments and private payors, has significantly expanded […]
CMS recently expanded its list of telehealth services covered during the COVID-19 pandemic to include 24 new audiology and speech-language pathology services. CMS issued the updated list of codes March 30. The new services include diagnosis and treatment of swallowing problems, therapy for improving cognitive function and assessing speech-generating devices. Here is the list of the 24 new CPT […]
When the COVID-19 pandemic began within the United States in early 2020, residents of long-term care facilities — including assisted living communities, skilled nursing facilities, nursing homes and other facilities — were severely affected by widespread infections and deaths. Operators acted quickly to restrict visitor access and limit resident activities. As a result of social distancing […]
The AMA has again called on the Government to further extend the temporary COVID-19 Medicare Telehealth items until the end of the year. “The Queensland outbreak and the flow-on impact on other states is a timely reminder that the pandemic is far from over,” AMA President, Dr Omar Khorshid said. “With the emergence of new […]
A Cedars-Sinai study finds that patients – especially minorities and underserved populations – took advantage of telehealth to meet with their care providers for cardiovascular services during the pandemic. By Eric Wicklund April 06, 2021 – The COVID-19 threat pushed more people onto telehealth platforms for cardiovascular care, according to new research out of Cedars-Sinai. But it also […]
Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is used to monitor patients who are most at-risk for rehospitalizations, likely due to pre-existing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and respiratory illness. RPM is also increasingly used with rising-risk patients as physicians and agencies seek to better manage these patients earlier in the continuum of care. And RPM is […]
When the COVID-19 pandemic began, no industry was hit more drastically than the healthcare industry. Experts and organizations across the industry had to manage both the enormous volume of COVID patients, while also having to make sure patients with other medical issues could be treated and monitored in a socially distant fashion. As the pandemic […]
As the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the United States in early 2020, telemedicine took a giant leap forward in popularity. Because of the pandemic and under the direction of federal, state, and local government agencies, necessary relaxation of advance practice provider (APP) supervision and insurance rules redefined access to care through telemedicine, giving providers and healthcare […]
The Federal Communications Commission this week unanimously approved a process for distributing nearly $250 million to help healthcare providers deliver telehealth services. The second round of funding (PDF) for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program builds on the $200 million program established as part of the CARES Act last year. The funding will cover the costs of providers’ telecommunications […]
Recently, the home-based healthcare market has boomed in terms of interest and investments from payers, which makes sense given the ongoing need to keep high-risk populations healthy and safe from exposure to the potentially fatal coronavirus. The promise and value of home care has never been clearer for organizations across the care continuum. However, the […]
A. Application Evaluation Process 1. Application Evaluation Metrics The Consolidated Appropriations Act directs the Commission to seek public comment on “the metrics the Commission should use to evaluate applications for funding” as well as “how the Commission should treat applications filed during” Round 1 that did not receive CARES Act funding, should those applicants wish […]
AGENCY: Federal Communications Commission. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: In this document, the Federal Communications Commission (Commission) takes the next steps in funding the COVID-19 Telehealth Program (Program) by expanding the administrative responsibilities of the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC). The Commission finds it in the public’s interest to direct USAC to administer the remainder of […]
Media Contact:Katie Gorscakkatie.gorscak@fcc.gov Program Contact:Round2TelehealthApplicationSupport@usac.org For Immediate Release FCC ANNOUNCES ROUND 2 COVID-19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM APPLICATION PORTAL WILL OPEN ON APRIL 29Round 2 of Telehealth Program Will Provide an Additional $249 Million to Support Health Care Providers and Patients In All 50 States, DC, and Territories WASHINGTON, April 15, 2021—The Federal Communications Commission’s Wireline Competition […]
Before theFEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSIONWASHINGTON, D.C. 20554 In the Matter of COVID-19 Telehealth Program Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers))))) WC Docket No. 20-89 WC Docket No. 18-213 REPORT AND ORDER AND ORDER ON RECONSIDERATION Adopted: March 29, 2021 Released: March 30, 2021 By the Commission: Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel and Commissioners Carr and Starks issuing separate statements. […]
