CMS Coverage Year 2021 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule
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Executive Summary: Tracking Telehealth Changes State-by-State in Response to COVID-19 – September 2020
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the United States, states, payers, and providers are looking for ways to expand access to telehealth services. Telehealth is an essential tool in ensuring patients are able to access the healthcare services they need in as safe a manner as possible. In order to provide our clients with quick and […]
Lawmakers detail how to transition telehealth from emergency response to permanent tool: 3 details
To ensure telehealth provisions lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic become permanent, U.S. Reps. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., are focusing on broadband access and Medicare reimbursement initiatives, according to NextGov. Three details: 1. The lawmakers said that HIPAA relaxations enacted during the public health emergency, including allowing telehealth visits over platforms such as Zoom […]
Patient Satisfaction with Telehealth High Following COVID-19
A new J.D. Power survey showed that patient satisfaction scores for telehealth reached 860 on a 1,000-point scale. By Sara Heath October 07, 2020 – Telehealth is one of the top health sectors yielding a high patient satisfaction score, but just about half of patients are still citing some barriers to virtual care access, according to the J.D. Power 2020 […]
Mayo Clinic using remote patient monitoring to help patients recover at home
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Mayo Clinic Hospitals are using technology to make sure those fighting coronavirus at home have some extra oversight from heath care professionals Mayo Clinic first started this program several years ago to help treat patients with chronic conditions like diabetes or congestive heart failure. But when the pandemic hit, they used that […]
Partnership to Advance Virtual Care Urges CMS to Extend and Make Permanent Certain Telehealth Flexibilities Issued in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic
Today, the Partnership to Advance Virtual Care (the “Partnership”) submitted comments in response to the CY 2021 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule [CMS-1734-P] proposed rule. As a leading coalition representing stakeholders advancing telehealth priorities, the Partnership’s comments urge the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to extend and make permanent certain flexibilities issued in response to the […]
Lawmakers See Equity-Enhancing Future for Telehealth Beyond Pandemic
Reps. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., and Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., view telehealth services as a key tool to promote equity in health care post-pandemic Two House lawmakers active in tech policy on Monday outlined how to transition telehealth services used widely during the pandemic into permanent tools capable of reducing health care disparities in the U.S after […]
Study: Changes Are Needed to Make Telehealth a Primary Care Platform
A new study out of Johns Hopkins finds that primary care visits and health and wellness check-ups have dropped during the coronavirus pandemic – and telehealth isn’t helping. By Eric Wicklund October 05, 2020 – While telehealth use has skyrocketed during the coronavirus pandemic, not everyone has made the jump to virtual care – and that could be […]
Telehealth more time- and cost-effective for chronic pain patients, bolstering case for provider adoption
Patient satisfaction was high even before the pandemic, and anesthesiologists say 50% of visits could be virtual. Jeff Lagasse, Associate Editor Patients who saw a pain medicine specialist via telehealth saved time and money and were highly satisfied with their experience, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study being presented at the Anesthesiology 2020 annual meeting. […]
HHS Adds $20B to Provider Relief Fund for Home Health Agencies, Others
The federal government announced Thursday that the Provider Relief Fund will be replenished with a tranche of $20 billion. Unlike some of the previous rounds of relief, home health providers and others will have to apply for funding. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will begin accepting applications from providers on Oct. […]
Hospices Seek to Balance Technology with the Human Touch
By Holly Vossel | October 4, 2020 Hospices nationwide have leveraged technological advances to improve workflows, referral communications and enhance patient care. While telehealth in particular has been vital for hospices to continue reaching vulnerable high-risk patient populations during the COVID-19 pandemic, providers must proceed with caution when it comes to technology and patient care. Prior to the pandemic, technology in […]
HHS Releases Rural Action Plan
On September 3, 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Rural Action Plan (the “Plan”). The Plan: (i) details the challenges rural communities endure; (ii) provides an assessment of current and upcoming rural healthcare efforts; (iii) lays out a “Four Point Strategy” to address the disparities between rural and urban communities; and (iv) […]
Bipartisan TIKES Act would improve telehealth access for kids
The legislation would require the HHS Secretary to issue guidance to states on virtual care strategies and mandate studies on the impact of telemedicine on healthcare access. By Kat Jercich October 02, 2020 02:41 PM This week, U.S. Reps Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del., and Dr. Michael C. Burgess, R-Texas, introduced legislation aimed at increasing telehealth access, […]
Advocating for underserved populations: Is remote patient monitoring the answer?
It’s crucial that today’s providers, innovators, and regulators alike continue to push for such tech adoption, driving virtual, continuous care in populations disproportionately affected by disease. By TARA DAVIS Post a comment / Oct 2, 2020 at 12:03 PM For years, healthcare providers have struggled to ensure that minorities, individuals residing in rural and low-income populations, and patients […]
New Uses for Telehealth: How Virtual Care Has Extended Its Reach
From physical therapy to dentistry, a wide range of specialties are being delivered with a click. by Kevin Joy Telehealth isn’t just for urgent care. Consumers’ growing comfort with the platform — coupled with the demands of a public health emergency — has helped broaden the use of virtual visits to support a wide range […]