Crises have the unique power to both unearth long-simmering problems and unmask raw potential. I think it’s fair to say that the COVID-19 pandemic (an indisputable crisis) has managed to do both. While it has revealed fissures in our healthcare system — infection control issues in congregate settings, and healthcare disparities among races and between […]
The hospital reimbursement increase should also come with quality incentive program revisions, while physician rates should stay the course, according to the March report to Congress. By Jacqueline LaPointe March 17, 2021 – In its annual March report to Congress, the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has recommended a 2 percent increase in Medicare hospital reimbursement rates in 2022 and […]
On March 10, 2021, Congress finalized and passed the American Rescue Plan of 2021 (ARP), the latest COVID-19 relief package that largely tracks President Biden’s initial $1.9 trillion proposal. The ARP extends unemployment insurance benefits and provides direct $1,400 stimulus payments to qualifying Americans, but it also makes several important health-policy-related changes. These include providing […]
The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is taking a cautious approach to long-term telehealth policy, telling lawmakers to extend COVID-19 telehealth freedoms for a few years before making any final decisions. By Eric Wicklund March 16, 2021 – The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission is taking a cautious approach to permanent telehealth policy, advising lawmakers to extend some emergency rules […]
The COVID-19 pandemic made healthcare visits over video or phone the norm, likely turning telehealth into a permanent fixture within the U.S. healthcare system. In fact, the majority of patient access leaders at large hospitals believe 20-30 percent of appointments will happen over video in 2021, according to recent research. Further, an overwhelming portion of those leaders – 95 […]
CMS has announced its final round of participants in the Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport (ET3) model, an innovative Medicare program that could use telehealth and mHealth tools to improve care for 911 callers. By Eric Wicklund March 15, 2021 – Federal officials have selected another 184 emergency healthcare providers to take part in an innovative program that […]
MedPAC survey found that 90% of Medicare beneficiaries were satisfied with telehealth WASHINGTON, DC, MARCH 16, 2021 – The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) appreciates that the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), in their March 2021 report to Congress on Medicare payment policy, recognized the importance of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and the need for policy […]
A bipartisan group of 50 Senators, led by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), introduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021, which builds on prior iterations of the bill with learnings from the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill attempts to address the post-pandemic Medicare telehealth landscape. While the federal […]
May 4, 2021 – Canistota, SD – On Monday, FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr applauded legislation introduced in the Senate that would make permanent telehealth flexibilities that were made available during the COVID-19 pandemic and expand coverage of telehealth services. The Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act of 2021, introduced […]
HHS is kicking off Black Maternal Health Week by offering three four-year grants, totaling $12 million, to projects aimed at boosting maternal health outcomes among underserved populations in rural America. By Eric Wicklund April 13, 2021 – Federal officials are making $12 million available for three projects that aim to approve maternal and obstetrics care for underserved populations […]
3 COVID-19-Driven Healthcare Changes to Make Permanent Living through a pandemic has taught us a lot about necessity — from what we can and cannot live without in our daily lives to the programs, policies and systems that support our nation’s critical infrastructures. Take healthcare, for instance. When a novel coronavirus emerged, it necessitated swift […]
Significant attention has been paid to the recent surge in telehealth. This attention is valid. While usage of telehealth has declined from the initial months of the pandemic, FAIR Health data show that telehealth claim lines had increased more than 2,800% nationally from December 2019 to December 2020. Significant attention has been paid to the recent […]
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 […]
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 […]