When the COVID-19 pandemic took hold in early 2020, some health systems were forced to dramatically expand their telehealth capabilities in a matter of days. As clinicians and patients alike became more comfortable with virtual care technology, adoption increased exponentially in both outpatient and inpatient settings. Long after the pandemic surge and even as in-person […]
The American Medical Association has launched a new program to help providers craft a long-term strategy for telehealth scalability and sustainability. By Eric Wicklund June 14, 2021 – The American Medical Association has launched a new program aimed at helping providers optimize and expand their telehealth programs. Meg Barron, the AMA’s vice president of digital health strategy, says the […]
The eHealth Initiative and several high-profile organizations are once again asking Congressional leadership to enact long-term telehealth policy to preserve some access and coverage rules that have been enacted during the pandemic. By Eric Wicklund July 21, 2021 – Telehealth advocates have launched another effort to prompt Congress to establish a post-pandemic connected health policy. The eHealth Initiative is […]
More than 400 advocacy groups are calling for Congress to act quickly to permanently expand flexibilities for telehealth that could go away after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency expected to run through 2021. The 430 groups sent a letter to congressional leadership on Monday underscoring the urgency for action now amid concerns from providers […]
More than 400 healthcare and technology organizations are calling on Capitol Hill to eliminate arbitrary restrictions while helping FQHCs and critical access hospitals offer wider access to virtual care. By Mike Miliard July 27, 202109:55 AM Leading healthcare industry stakeholders on Monday implored top leaders in the House and Senate to help ensure, among other imperatives, […]
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra voiced his support for permanent telehealth expansions and reducing access barriers after the pandemic ends during The Washington Post‘s June 24 virtual event on digital health. In March 2020, CMS lifted several restrictions to make telehealth more accessible and affordable for patients and providers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The White House, CMS and other […]
The use of telehealth has exploded during the COVID-19 pandemic, but critical issues related to health inequity, state medical licensure requirements, regulation and payment must be addressed for this mode of care to continue to flourish beyond the public health emergency. The AMA House of Delegates (HOD) took several actions with the aim of doing just that. […]
After a year of change, how will homecare adapt online? by Hannah Wolfson Tuesday, June 1st, 2021 In the earliest days of the emerging COVID-19 pandemic—in a news story published on March 16, 2020, to be exact—we reported that homecare companies were facing a new problem: denials of service. Patients and customers were increasingly refusing […]
Lori Prestesater shares three key factors that should be taken into consideration if healthcare providers are to continue along their trajectory towards being truly digitally driven Digitally delivered healthcare saw significant changes during the pandemic – but are these innovations here to stay? Telehealth can be more efficient, give patients more control over their care and, […]
At the same time, a new report finds, stakeholders should not ignore the limitations of current virtual care models. By Kat Jercich May 27, 2021 10:43 AM A study published this month in JMIR Human Factors from Syracuse University researchers found that physicians are in favor of expanding telehealth permanently. However, many docs also voiced concerns […]
Many patients remain skeptical of remote patient monitoring devices, which have seen a heavy uptake due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic forced a shift away from the majority of in-person physician visits in order to minimise the risk of spreading Covid-19. A recent GlobalData poll found that this experience may have accelerated the […]
Public and private providers are keen on expanding their home health programs after seeing how well it worked during the pandemic. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has issued a proposed home health rule aimed at accelerating the shift to value by expanding the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model nationwide. The CY2022 Home Health Prospective Payment System proposed rule provides payment […]
As COVID-19 case counts rose and sheltering in place became a public health mandate, telehealth use skyrocketed nationwide as previous regulatory restrictions were lifted and providers and patients found safe ways to access care. But despite the rapid uptake in telehealth nationally, prevailing inequities in internet and technology access still leave out too many populations […]