Blog
Improving COPD Care With Remote Patient Monitoring
Worsening chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) symptoms are often underreported by patients who cannot recognize these changes as sign of decline, but they can be objectively measured through remote patient monitoring (RPM). More efficient chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) diagnoses and treatment may be possible through remote patient monitoring (RPM), according to a recent article published in Respiratory Medicine Case […]
FCC Launches 2nd Round of COVID-19 Telehealth Program With 62 Awards
The FCC has announced 62 award winners – one in each state and territory and Washington DC – for the first round of the newly revamped COVID-19 Telehealth Program. By Eric Wicklund August 27, 2021 – The Federal Communications Commission has approved 62 projects for funding under the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The projects are the first to be […]
WIRELINE COMPETITION BUREAU APPROVES FIRST GROUP OF FUNDING AWARDEES IN ROUND 2 OF COVID-19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM
DA 21-1052 Released: August 26, 2021 Wireline Competition Bureau Approves first group of Funding Awardees in ROUND 2 OF COVID-19 tELEHEALTH PROGRAM Health Care Providers in Every State, Territory, and the District of Columbia to Receive Critical Support for Telehealth and Connected Care Services WC Docket No. 20-89 Today, the Wireline Competition Bureau (Bureau) approves […]
FCC Announces Awards for Round 2 of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program
Media Contact: Katie Gorscak katie.gorscak@fcc.gov For Immediate Release FCC ANNOUNCES NEW COVID-19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM AWARDS TOTALING NEARLY $42 MILLION TO HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS IN EVERY STATE AND TERRITORY — WASHINGTON, August 26, 2021—The Federal Communications Commission today approved an initial set of 62 applications for funding commitments totaling $41.98 million […]
New Bill Seeks Nationwide Medicare Coverage for Asynchronous Telehealth Services
A Montana Congressman has introduced a bill that would establish Medicare coverage for asynchronous (store-and-forward) telehealth services in all 50 states, expanding the possibilities for a platform that would improve rural access to care. By Eric Wicklund August 09, 2021 – A Montana Congressman wants to improve rural healthcare access by ensuring Medicare coverage for asynchronous (store-and-forward) telehealth […]
Rural health care grants
U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making $500 million available in emergency rural health care grants as part of the American Rescue Plan. The awards will be made available for rural health care facilities, and communities to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services and nutrition assistance. […]
Proposed Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) CY 2022
This video reviews the Proposed Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) for CY 2022 as it relates to telehealth.
Track One: Recovery Grants
[ Track One: Recovery Grants Track One: Recovery funds must be used in correlation with the COVID-19 pandemic, and to support immediate health care needs, to help prepare for a future pandemic event, to increase access to quality health care services, or to support food assistance through food banks and food distribution facilities. Grants range from […]
Klobuchar, Smith Announce USDA Grant Program to Support Health Care in Rural Communities
Klobuchar, Smith Announce USDA Grant Program to Support Health Care in Rural Communities Klobuchar and Smith held event with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to announce the program WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make significant funding […]
Cures 2.0 Includes Provisions to Expand Telehealth Coverage, Services
While focusing on research to tackle cancer and other diseases, the massive Cures 2.0 bill unveiled last week includes provisions aimed at extending telehealth coverage and access beyond the pandemic. By Eric Wicklund June 28, 2021 – The next phase of the 21st Century Cures Act includes several measures to boost Medicare coverage for telehealth, through both new […]
Telehealth supports hospice and palliative care providers, patients and caregivers
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 quickly led to rapid adoption of telehealth across all healthcare sectors, including hospice and palliative care. A year later, hospice and palliative clinicians continue to incorporate telehealth into their daily practices to help establish, implement and inform a plan of care for home-based, seriously ill patients and […]
22 states changed telemedicine laws during the pandemic
Most pursued changes via administrative action, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report, which may not be a permanent solution after the COVID-19 public health emergency ends. By Kat Jercich June 24, 2021 03:01 PM The Commonwealth Fund released an issue brief this week reviewing state actions to expand individual and group health insurance coverage of telemedicine […]
CMS to Permanently Cover Audio-Only Telemedicine for Mental Health
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed permanent Medicare coverage of audio-only mental health telehealth services. Currently, Medicare covers audio-only telehealth under temporary waivers that will expire when the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends. The change, contained in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule, is intended to maintain patient access to mental […]
CMS Releases 2022 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program Rule
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the 2022 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) proposed rule on July 13. This rule includes updates to payment rates for physicians and other health care professionals, expands the use of telehealth, clarifies evaluation and management (E/M) policies, proposes policies for the 2022 […]