Federal Agencies
CMS-Supported Telehealth Will Continue To Be A Driving Force – But Watch for Greater OIG Enforcement
As mindsets pivoted to a post-pandemic life, telehealth advocates petitioned CMS to embrace telehealth as a permanent care option, and CMS responded with regulatory action at the end of 2021. During the Covid-19 Pandemic, telehealth usage surged as patients and providers turned to it as a safer care alternative. McKinsey estimated telehealth claim volumes reached […]
Congress Considers Extending Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities
During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS has allowed numerous telehealth flexibilities across Medicare and Medicaid, making it possible for patients to receive care remotely from their homes and enabling states, managed care organizations, and providers to expand access to care. The telehealth landscape looks drastically different now compared with before the pandemic, with patients and providers […]
Congress Considers Extending Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities
During the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS has allowed numerous telehealth flexibilities across Medicare and Medicaid, making it possible for patients to receive care remotely from their homes and enabling states, managed care organizations, and providers to expand access to care. The telehealth landscape looks drastically different now compared with before the pandemic, with patients and providers […]
Using Hospital-At-Home Services to Lower Readmissions, Increase Capacity
A safety-net health system leveraged its home hospital program, launched a few months before the Omicron surge, to bring acute care to patients and alleviate capacity challenges. February 28, 2022 – As the Omicron variant drove COVID-19 case counts up, hospitals found themselves facing a familiar problem: caring for patients as inpatient capacity grew slim. Many health facilities […]
FCC Seeks Reforms to Rural Health Care Program
The FCC is requesting public comment on proposed reforms to the Rural Health Care Program to “promote program efficiency and ensure that rural healthcare providers receive appropriate levels of funding.” Initial Comments Due: 30 days after publication in the Federal RegisterReply Comments Due: 60 days after publication in the Federal Register Background The Rural Health […]
Mississippi Medicaid Reimbursement – Telehealth
Mississippi Last updated 01/13/2022 POLICY Policy applies to Private payers, MS Medicaid and employee benefit plans “Remote patient monitoring services” means the delivery of home health services using telecommunications technology to enhance the delivery of home health care, including: Monitoring of clinical patient data such as weight, blood pressure, pulse, pulse oximetry and other condition-specific […]
Mississippi Medicaid – MS Admin. Code 23 Part 225 Chapter 1 – Telehealth Services
Title 23: Division of MedicaidPart 225: TelemedicineChapter 1: Telehealth ServicesRule 1.1: DefinitionsThe Division of Medicaid defines telemedicine as a method which uses electronic informationand communication equipment to supply and support health care when remoteness disconnectspatients and links primary care physicians, specialists, providers, and beneficiaries whichincludes, but is not limited to, telehealth services, remote patient monitoring […]
FY 2022 Optimizing Virtual Care (Q8V) Awards
HHS Awards Nearly $55 Million to Increase Virtual Health Care Access and Quality Through Community Health Centers (2/14/2022) HRSA awarded a total of $54,564,275 in one-time funding to support 29 health centers to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative, evidence-based strategies that: Optimize the use of virtual care to increase access and improve clinical quality for underserved communities and vulnerable populations; […]
HHS Awards Nearly $55 Million to Increase Virtual Health Care Access and Quality Through Community Health Centers
Awards will enhance telehealth, digital patient tools, and health information technology to support underserved communities. Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), awarded nearly $55 million to 29 HRSA-funded health centers to increase health care access and quality for underserved populations through virtual care such […]
Executive Summary: Tracking Telehealth Changes State-by-State in Response to COVID-19 – February 2022
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues across the United States, states, payers, and providers are looking for ways to expand access to telehealth servic es. 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 […]
Washington gets more pressure on telehealth reform
A bipartisan bill has been introduced to expand telehealth access for two years. Hundreds of advocates are calling on Congress to ensure permanent access. Healthcare advocates have been pushing Washington to ensure wide access to telehealth continues beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, and the effort seems to be making progress. This week, a bipartisan bill was […]
FCC ANNOUNCES FINAL GROUP OF COVID-19 TELEHEALTH PROGRAM AWARDS
Round 2 of Program Supported 447 Health Care Providers Throughout the Country WASHINGTON, January 26, 2022—The Federal Communications Commission today approved an additional 100 applications for funding commitments totaling $47.89 million for its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This is the FCC’s sixth and final funding announcement of approved Round 2 applications. The FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program […]
Medicare Telehealth Mental Health FAQs: CMS and the New In-Person Exam Requirement
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has finalized its rule on in-person exam requirements for Medicare coverage of telehealth-based mental health services when the patient is located at home. The Frequently Asked Questions below are based on CMS’ policies in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule. 1. When does the rule take effect? The […]