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JDSUPRA November 13, 2023 Government Regulation (or Lack Thereof) of AI in Pre-K Through 12th Grade Classrooms The use of artificial intelligence (AI) has already enhanced and has the potential to further expand and improve preK through 12th grade education. However, educators and school leaders are struggling to keep up with the many constantly evolving AI and generative AI (GenAI) tools.
HEALTHCAREDIVE November 12, 2023 Patient portal access spikes during pandemic, but disparities persist, study finds Engagement with online medical records increased during the pandemic, but fewer Black and Hispanic patients accessed electronic health information compared with White patients.
Foley & Lardner, LLP November 10, 2023 CMS Expands Access to Behavioral Health Services; Physician Fee Schedule Expands Billing Providers and Flexibilities On November 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its 2024 Physician Fee Schedule final rule (Final Rule) for calendar year 2024 that will, in part, implement some of the most important changes to improve access to behavioral health care in Medicare’s history. These changes further the goals of CMS’s Behavioral Health Strategy as follows: For the first time, CMS allows Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) to enroll in Medicare Part B and bill for their services. CMS expands billing flexibilities through the creation of new codes, modifying some Conditions of Participation and Conditions for Coverage, and allows existing behavioral health codes to be billed by more types of providers.
HealthcareITNews November 9, 2023 VA, VHA, Verizon partner to increase rural veterans' telehealth access Network-as-a-Service architecture at Palo Alto Healthcare System will increase veterans' access to virtual care services by bringing 4G or 5G cellular and LEO satellite connectivity to those living in broadband deserts.
HealthcareITNews November 9, 2023 MAVEN Project's specialty virtual care avoids $11M in unnecessary costs The average wait time for a specialist appointment across healthcare can be well over three months, but volunteers on this FQHC-focused initiative usually respond in less than 10 hours. Timely access to specialty care impacts health outcomes.
mHealthIntelligence November 9, 2023 RPM Improves Hypertension Outcomes but Drives Up Costs Though RPM increased medication use and reduced hospital stays among hypertension patients, it spurred a $274 per patient increase in cost, new research shows.
Foley & Lardner, LLP November 8, 2023 HHS OIG: New “General Compliance Program Guidance” Provides Voluntary Steps Towards Increased Effectiveness In connection with the November 2023 Health Care Compliance Association’s (HCCA) Healthcare Enforcement Compliance Conference, and with acknowledgment by the Chief Counsel to the Inspector General, Rob DeConti, of the long partnership between the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and the HCCA, the OIG issued its new “General Compliance Program Guidance” (GCPG) on November 6, 2023. The ongoing HCCA conference provided an opportunity for discussion of the GCPG’s intent, design and direction at a session led by two attorneys with the Office of Counsel to the Inspector General, Amanda Copsey and Laura Ellis.
Foley & Lardner, LLP November 8, 2023 Top 5 Rules for Medicare 2024 Remote Patient Monitoring and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring: What Companies Need to Know On November 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new policies related to remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) services reimbursed under the Medicare program.
CCHP November 7, 2023 New HHS Resources Focus on Telehealth Patient Privacy Education Last month the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released two new resources for patients to increase understanding around protecting health information when receiving health care services via telehealth. The first document is more extensive and geared toward providers informing patients, while the second contains direct recommendations to patients: PROVIDER RESOURCE: Educating Patients about Privacy and Security Risks to Protected Health Information when Using Remote Communication Technologies for Telehealth PATIENT RESOURCE: Telehealth Privacy and Security Tips for Patients The guidance documents are intended to help educate patients about potential privacy risks when using telehealth and ways to mitigate such risks. .
Foley & Lardner, LLP November 7, 2023 New Biden EO on AI Oversight, Development, and Use: Implications for the Health Care Industry On Monday, October 30, President Biden signed an executive order (EO) aimed at overhauling the governance and oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) and technological infrastructure, including setting standards for AI used in the health care industry. The order seeks to strengthen privacy-preserving research and technologies, while developing guidelines for federal agencies. The provisions in this order will have a lasting impact on all facets of the health care industry that utilize or may in the future utilize AI models and systems.
mHealthIntelligence November 6, 2023 New PFS Rule Includes Telehealth Payment, Address Reporting Wins The 2024 Physician Fee Schedule rule finalizes several pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities, including paying higher non-facility rates for telehealth visits.
mHealthIntelligence November 6, 2023 Bipartisan Bill Aims to Expand OUD Medication Access via Telehealth The reintroduced TREATS Act would permanently allow clinicians to prescribe buprenorphine for OUD treatment through telehealth without a prior in-person exam.
HEALTHCAREDIVE November 2, 2023 Physicians spend more time after hours on EHR tasks post-COVID, report finds The switch to virtual care has increased documentation burden for physicians, according to a new analysis in JAMA.
HealthcareITNews November 1, 2023 Tele-stroke tech improves care and provider confidence at Essentia Health-Fargo The nurse stroke program manager offers an in-depth look at the virtual care initiative, which brings neurologists from other sites into critical decision-making.
mHealthIntelligence October 31, 2023 ATA Publishes Principles for Artificial Intelligence Development, Use The American Telemedicine Association’s AI principles highlight the need for disclosures on data use, evidence underpinning AI tools, and AI best practices.
Foley & Lardner, LLP October 30, 2023 FDA’s New Enforcement Policy: A Win for Remote Patient Monitoring and Remote Therapeutic Monitoring Manufacturers On October 19, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff titled Enforcement Policy for Non-Invasive Remote Monitoring Devices Used to Support Patient Monitoring (guidance). This guidance updates previous guidance issued during the COVID-19 pandemic and is meant to provide clarity on current enforcement policies now that the public health emergency is declared over.
mHealthIntelligence October 27, 2023 Half of US States Reimburse for 4 Common Forms of Virtual Care A new report shows that 25 states reimburse for video, store-and-forward, and audio-only telehealth, as well as remote patient monitoring through Medicaid.
HealthcareITNews October 26, 2023 Where virtual care meets value-based care "If we can manage patients on the front side of their diagnoses, and continue that management longitudinally, it's going to have a significant impact on the escalation of patients' chronic conditions," one expert says about the value of preventative care.
mHealthIntelligence October 26, 2023 Most Clinicians Want Investment in Virtual, At-Home Care to Grow Clinicians believe care-at-home efforts, including telehealth, RPM, and hospital-at-home, increase healthcare access and patient satisfaction, per a new survey.
HealthcareITNews October 24, 2023 Patient outcomes point to efficacy of telehealth and virtual care A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine shows that "ongoing telemedicine use is fairly effective in having limited return office visits, low emergency visit rates, and very low hospitalization rates compared to office visits."
mHealthIntelligence October 24, 2023 Telehealth Stakeholders Ask CMS to Eliminate Address Reporting Burden Trade associations, health systems, and telehealth companies want CMS to allow providers to conduct virtual visits from home without reporting their addresses.
mHealthIntelligence October 20, 2023 Black Cancer Patients Will Accept Telehealth but Prefer In-Person Care Though Black cancer patients view telehealth as acceptable and convenient, research reveals they have a clear preference for in-person care.
mHealthIntelligence October 18, 2023 In-Person Follow-ups Higher After Telehealth Than Office Visits The committee will advise the FDA on the benefits and potential risks of digital health technologies, including wearables, AI-based tools, and digital therapeutics
mHealthIntelligence October 18, 2023 Telehealth Supports OUD Treatment Retention Among Medicaid Enrollees Medicaid patients who started opioid use disorder treatment via telehealth have better odds of continuing treatment than their peers who did not use telehealth.
mHealthIntelligence October 10, 2023 Pediatric Telemental Health Use Swells to 2,300% of Pre-Pandemic Levels Pediatric telemental health use surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing 30-fold over pre-pandemic levels by August 2022.
mHealthIntelligence October 9, 2023 DEA Extends Virtual Prescribing Flexibilities Through 2024 With the extension, healthcare providers can prescribe controlled substances, including Adderall and Vicodin, through telehealth without a prior in-person exam.
HealthcareITNews October 9, 2023 Is the healthcare industry selling telemedicine short? Telehealth should not be viewed as a technology first – it should be looked upon as a workflow solution and driver of unused capacity, says a healthcare consultant with new virtual care survey results.
mHealthIntelligence October 6, 2023 New Bill Aims to Enable Virtual Cardiac Rehab for Medicare Patients The newly introduced bill would make permanent a pandemic-era flexibility that allows Medicare reimbursement for home-based cardiac rehab delivered via telehealth.
mHealthIntelligence October 5, 2023 mHealth Strategy Improves Diabetes Outcomes Among Black, Latino Patients An intervention led by clinical pharmacists and health coaches using mHealth tools improved blood glucose levels among type 2 diabetes Black and Latino patients.
mHealthIntelligence October 5, 2023 Virtual Reality Helps Alleviate Pain Among Burn Injury Patients A new study shows that a virtual reality-based intervention helped lessen pain associated with dressing changes among adult burn injury patients.
mHealthIntelligence October 4, 2023 NYC Public Health System Launches Virtual Abortion Access In a first nationwide, New York City's public healthcare system has extended medication abortion access via its ExpressCare telehealth service.
HealthcareITNews October 4, 2023 Zoom offers more AI features for healthcare organizations The new artificial intelligence tools could help staff and team members who may be in different time zones catch up on missed meetings, improve their productivity and work together more effectively, the company says.
CCHP October 3, 2023 New CMS Provider Enrollment FAQ for MFT and MHC Medicare Practitioners The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) document for Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) and Mental Health Counselors (MHCs) regarding provider enrollment, which includes a section related to telehealth.
HealthcareITNews October 3, 2023 Telehealth helps address many key chronic care management challenges More patients with chronic disease. Fewer providers to take care of them. An aging population. SDOH barriers. Telemedicine and remote patient monitoring are essential tools to help manage these healthcare hurdles, an expert says.
mHealthIntelligence October 3, 2023 Telehealth Visits Decline 46%, But Telebehavioral Healthcare Still High From 2020 to 2022, virtual visit volume halved, but telebehavioral health services remained popular, rising to 63 percent of overall telehealth visits.
HealthcareITNews October 2, 2023 Generational gaps emerge in telehealth satisfaction Older Americans are facing some barriers to adoption, including struggles with digital channels, access and ease of use.
HEALTHCAREDIVE October 2, 2023 Third quarter cements lower digital health funding, report finds Funding and deal count has fallen significantly compared to pandemic boon times, but trends have stabilized for several quarters in a new normal for the digital health sector.
CCHP September 26, 2023 DEA LISTENING SESSIONS HIGHLIGHT: Stakeholder Push for Registry & Signal Additional Comment Period As mentioned in CCHP’s In-Focus last week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) held listening sessions on September 12 and 13 to gather more information on the proposals the agency made earlier this year regarding the use of telehealth to prescribe a controlled substance post-pandemic. Earlier this month, CCHP also provided a recap of DEA telehealth policy in our September newsletter, including the waiver of existing in-person requirements through November 11, 2023. For those interested in providing comment during the DEA listening sessions, the DEA implemented a request and approval process prior to the sessions for all comments/questions as described in the DEA notice.
Healthleaders September 26, 2023 DARTMOUTH HEALTH USES TELEMEDICINE, VIRTUAL LEARNING TO HELP WITH DIFFICULT BIRTHS The New Hampshire health system is using a virtual health program to train rural providers to handle difficult births, while also plugging in a robust telemedicine network to offer on-demand access to specialists.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 25, 2023 New Texas Telehealth Institute Aims to Boost Rural Healthcare Access Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center's new telehealth and digital innovation institute will focus on digital healthcare access, research, and training.
HealthcareITNEws September 22, 2023 DEA suggests 2nd comment period for post-PHE online Rx registration The DEA's two days of curated listening sessions showcased ideas for how a special registration eliminating in-person evaluation requirements for medically necessary controlled substances might work, but the agency indicated a need for more specifics.
Telehealth.org September 20, 2023 Telehealth or In-Person? What Teletherapists Need to Know About Surprising Preferences Teletherapists are at the crossroads of rapidly evolving healthcare models and patient or client preferences. A recent study, “Choosing Or Losing In Behavioral Health: A Study Of Patients’ Experiences Selecting Telehealth Versus In-Person Care,” has recently shed light on whether clients and patients prefer telehealth only or in-person care (Sousa, 2023).
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 20, 2023 Virtual Nursing, Sitting Platforms Help Alleviate Staff Shortages” Most healthcare professionals believe that their virtual nursing and sitting solutions have helped circumvent staff shortages, a new KLAS report shows.
Telehealth.org September 20, 2023 AI’s Future in Behavioral Health: Relevant Perspectives from Suleyman’s Sobering New Book, “The Coming Wave” “Artificial Intelligence is not merely a field of computer science; it is a factor shaping the terrain on which we must solve humanity’s grand challenges,” writes Mustafa Suleyman in his alarming work, The Coming Wave (Suleyman & Bhaskar, 2023).
HealthcareITNews September 19, 2023 VA clinician says teleneurology is improving access and care for veterans A Regenstrief Institute researcher and VA neurologist unpacks the results of a recent study that researched the outcomes of adding telemedicine to the care plans for veterans with neurologic disease.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 19, 2023 Providers See Virtual Nursing as Potential Recruitment Opportunity Virtual nursing efforts supporting patient discharge, admissions, education, and more can provide a recruitment opportunity amid staff shortages.
HealthcareITNEws September 19, 2023 ATA releases SDOH toolkit to scale community telehealth delivery The American Telemedicine Association says the new measures, calculators and other tools will help communities address the economic burden of inaction on health disparities and improve health through better access to virtual care.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 19, 2023 Hybrid Care Could Help Curb Disparities in Healthcare Utilization Offering patients both in-person and virtual care options can help reduce healthcare disparities related to race, ethnicity, and language, new research shows.
CCHP September 19, 2023 FTC & OCR Stress(again) THE IMPORTANCE OF HOW HEALTH DATA IS HANDLED In CCHP’s April 25, 2023 In Focus titled Health Data Privacy & Telehealth, we wrote about the rising concern regarding how telehealth vendors and practitioners were protecting and using health data. We discussed recent actions the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) had taken against dubious data sharing practices.
HealthcareITNews September 18, 2023 Telehealth, properly integrated with EHRs, can boost cancer care Electronic-reported outcomes appearing in clinicians' EHR workflow can help inform the ways providers deliver care and achieve better outcomes, says one oncology software exec.
AMA September 14, 2023 Building on telehealth gains will boost access to care Virtual patient care exploded during the pandemic out of necessity, but its promise as an integral part of modern medical care was established long before. Telehealth can be a lifeline for all patients, but particularly those with limited mobility, those in in rural, economically, or socially marginalized communities, and those managing a chronic illness. That is why, even though the COVID-19 public health emergency has expired, the AMA continues to champion telehealth expansion as part of our Recovery Plan for America’s Physicians.
HealthcareITNews September 13, 2023 Senators push back on DEA proposed telehealth rules, say they'd affect patient care In a letter to Anne Milgram, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, they say Congress created a special registration under the SUPPORT Act "not as an option for DEA to utilize, but a requirement."
FIERCE Healthcare September 13, 2023 Will the DEA, finally, set up a special registration for telehealth prescribing? Doctors and lawmakers say it's long overdue With an ongoing shortage of mental health providers, particularly in rural areas, requiring patients to see doctors in-person to get prescriptions for controlled drugs severely restricts access to care and could increase patient harm, telehealth leaders and doctors told officials at the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Tuesday.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 13, 2023 Asynchronous Telemental Healthcare Claims Rise, Doubling in Midwest Mental health conditions not only rose on the list of top asynchronous telehealth diagnoses in June but also topped the list of synchronous telehealth diagnoses.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENC September 12, 2023 Mass General Brigham to Expand Hospital-at-Home Services The health system will implement at-home hospital programs at three community hospitals in Massachusetts starting mid-September.
CCHP September 12, 2023 Medicare Payment Rules: Hospice, SNFs, CAHs-DEA Listening Sessions State Telehealth Updates • CCHP’S September Newsletter - Medicare Payment Rules Address Telehealth for Hospice, SNFs & CAHs in Medicare FCHIP Demonstration- • Recap of DEA Telehealth Policy: DEA listening sessions happening today and tomorrow • Significant Telehealth Policy Dates & Deadlines • Latest Policy Developments in CCHP’s Telehealth Policy Finder and Policy Trends Map • Telehealth Provider Survey from New York • Open for Questions: FQHC Billing Assistance Technical Assistance
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 11, 2023 Multiracial Individuals More Likely to Use Telehealth Abortion Services Multiracial individuals and those who live far away from a clinic were more likely to use telehealth to access abortion services than their peers, per a new study.
Telehealth.org September 11, 2023 Are You Ready? CMS’s 2024 Physician Fee Schedule and its Impact on Behavioral Health Services TIf you haven’t yet begun accepting telehealth clients for Medicare reimbursement, this year’s update may motivate you to reconsider. The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is making significant changes to telehealth regulations affecting providers, particularly behavioral health professionals. The proposed changes for CY 2024 include an array of updates like the expansion of Medicare-covered services, revisions in direct supervision norms, and the inclusion of new professional roles. These 2024 Physician Fee Schedule changes are poised to have a multifaceted impact on behavioral health practice, providing opportunities and challenges.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 8, 2023 ATA Submits Recommendations for Telehealth Prescription Flexibility ATA Action made recommendations to the DEA for a special registration process enabling the virtual prescribing of controlled substances without an in-person exam.
HEALTHCAREDIVE September 7, 2023 Nationwide telehealth use held steady in June The report from Fair Health comes as lawmakers this summer reintroduced legislation to make pandemic-era telehealth flexibilities permanent.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE September 5, 2023 Texas Pilots EMS Telehealth Project to Extend Trauma Care Called Next Generation 911, the pilot project will virtually connect rural trauma centers and EMS providers to trauma resource centers across the state.
CCHP September 5, 2023 Happy Labor Day, Plus Reminders & Deadlines to Keep on Your Radar CCHP hopes everyone enjoyed a much-needed day of rest and relaxation on Labor Day yesterday! As summer comes to a close and we look toward fall, we wanted to take this time to provide a few reminders of upcoming important telehealth policy dates and deadlines occurring over the coming weeks and months.
HEALTHCAREDIVE September 5, 2023 Behavioral health patients lack choice on telehealth vs. in-person care, study finds The study from nonprofit Rand comes after telehealth use skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Public Library Association August 31, 2023 Libraries Address the Digital Divide with Telehealth Bridging the digital divide is one of the Network of the National Library of Medicine’s (NNLM) national initiatives. Per the NNLM website, “[t]he goal of this national initiative is to promote technology and digital equity, digital literacy, and telehealth through long-term partnerships and collaborations that will bring access to online health information to communities across the United States.”
CCHP August 29, 2023 Digital Health Equity Engagement and Resources During the pandemic, the depth of the digital divide became even more apparent in all aspects of life, from education to healthcare. The increased attention to, and importance of, audio-only telehealth policies in particular is inherently connected to barriers to high-quality internet and digital devices necessary to utilize other telehealth modalities.
HEALTHCAREDIVE August 28, 2023 Mental health service utilization and spending increased during the pandemic, study finds The agency received more than 38,000 public comments in response to a proposal that would restrict telehealth prescriptions, with “a significant majority” expressing concern.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 31, 2023 Video Telehealth Use Is More Common Among Urban Veterans Results of a cohort study indicated that despite a wide uptake in video telehealth (VTH) use during the COVID-19 pandemic, urban veterans used this modality more, specifically veterans of American Indian and Alaska Native descent.
HealthcareITNews July 31, 2023 New research indicates that an app-based monitoring tool for postoperative oncologic patients was not inferior to in-person follow-up. The CEO of Amwell, Cleveland Clinic's partner in the telehealth initiative, discusses how the organizations are expanding their virtual care and remote patient monitoring efforts and where they see telemedicine in five years.
Telehealth.org July 31, 2023 Telephone vs Video Telehealth Preferences: Teletherapists vs. Medical Colleagues One of the most noticeable shifts in mental health care since 2020 has been the exponential increase in telehealth service delivery. The forced shift to telehealth exposed differing preferences between practitioner disciplines for telephone vs. video telehealth technologies. This article will summarize these differences and make related recommendations for telehealth expansion in the future.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 28, 2023 Hybrid Virtual Care Lessens Negative Environmental Impacts Using hybrid virtual care yields a 25 percent fall in carbon emissions and a 35 percent drop in water consumption, a case study indicates.
Telehealth.org July 27, 2023 Full HIPAA Enforcement Will Be Reinstated on August 10 The COVID-related discretionary enforcement of HIPAA for telehealth service delivery will end on August 10, 2023, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights (OCR). The announcement is titled, Expiration of Notifications of Enforcement Discretion and Transition Period for Telehealth.
HealthcareITNews July 27, 2023 APAC shifting to tech-enabled distributed model of care: Philips Many health facilities are already delivering acute and intensive care virtually or at home.
Telehealth.org July 26, 2023 Does Your Website or App Use Illegal Tracking Technologies? Warnings by FTC & HHS Office for Civil Rights In the modern digital age, healthcare professionals and organizations face an evolving landscape of opportunities and challenges. Among the most discussed issues is the use of online tracking technologies in the healthcare sector. Notably, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office for Civil Rights (OCR), and Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have issued warnings about the potential privacy and security risks these technologies present.
FIERCEHealthcare July 26, 2023 'It's going to get worse': Providers tap into health tech tools to prevent maternal health emergencies One in three counties in the U.S. is considered a maternal healthcare desert. Since that statistic was dropped back in October 2022 by March of Dimes, care in corners of the country has only continued to dry up. In response to the crisis, providers are using every seed in their seed bag and looking to "multimodal" technology strategies to predict health emergencies before they happen.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 26, 2023 Telehealth Yields Higher No-Show Rates for Behavioral Health Patients New research indicated difficulties behavioral health patients initially face when using telehealth technology, which yields higher no-show rates.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 25, 2023 Digital Therapeutics Provide Benefits but Require Further Research While digital therapeutics can overcome common care barriers, an assessment of abilities and reimbursement efforts should be considered.
HealthcareITNews July 25, 2023 Community Health Systems improves chronic condition outcomes with RPM Remote patient monitoring has helped the health system boost patient engagement, improve patient care quality through evidence-based therapies and reduce clinicians' workloads.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENC July 24, 2023 Hybrid Care Model Provided Effective Prenatal Care During the PHE Various prenatal health outcomes among mothers and newborns during the PHE were not impacted by the implementation of a hybrid care model.
HealthcareITNews July 24, 2023 When physicians and health IT leaders embrace an 'AI as an ally' mindset Dhruv Suyamprakasam, leader of a virtual healthcare company, discusses why he believes ChatGPT enhances productivity for providers of virtual and in-person care.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 20, 2023 Nonprofit Organization Evaluates Digital Healthcare Technologies Cybersecurity Plan A nonprofit organization launched a digital health program to improve health and lower costs through independent evaluations.
Telehealth.org July 20, 2023 Understanding Your Responsibilities Under the New US Federal NCSIP 2023 Cybersecurity Plan As licensed mental health and addiction professionals, our responsibility to our clients extends beyond the therapy or counseling room. The Biden-Harris Administration’s National Cybersecurity Strategy Implementation Plan (NCSIP), introduced in March, highlights the significance of this extended duty. Also known as the 2023 Cybersecurity Plan or Cybersecurity Strategy, this comprehensive blueprint is designed to enhance cyber resilience, mitigate cyber threat activities, and distribute cyber defense responsibilities throughout the US, including our addictions and mental health field.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 20, 2023 Collaboration Enhances Teledermatology for Underserved Areas A collaboration between George Washington University and Pfizer Global Medical Grants increases access to virtual dermatologic care.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 18, 2023 Lack of Digital Tools Create Barrier to Mental Healthcare Access A new report indicated that limited understanding, a lack of efficacy, and the absence of digital tools make mental healthcare less accessible.
Telehealth.org July 18, 2023 Telehealth Cures for Clinician Burnout Unfortunately, clinician burnout remains a widespread issue in the industry, even as the pandemic winds down. According to approximately one-third of clinicians, chronic staffing shortages and unfavorable financial margins contribute to this problem, making burnout the biggest threat to healthcare. Now that COVID is morphing into a variety of Long-COVID disorders and anxieties about global warming are on the rise, cures for burnout are increasingly relying on telehealth.
HealthcareITNews July 18, 2023 Teladoc Health will integrate Microsoft AI for automated clinical documentation The expanded partnership allows clinical documentation from virtual care visits to be automatically generated using Microsoft's AI capabilities, including GPT4.
Telehealth.org July 18, 2023 Mental Health Equity & Telehealth: Reducing Health Disparities Mental health equity, an essential principle in modern healthcare, attempts to remove health disparities that disproportionately impact marginalized or underserved communities. Health equity ensures that everyone can equally obtain quality healthcare services regardless of socioeconomic or geographic conditions.
HealthcareITNews July 17, 2023 Commonwealth Care Alliance shares key lessons from its robust telehealth program CCA prioritizes virtual care because access to technology is a social factor that impacts health – and it enhances care coordination by engaging members where they are.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE July 17, 2023 App-Based Postoperative Monitoring Improves Cancer Patient Recovery New research indicates that an app-based monitoring tool for postoperative oncologic patients was not inferior to in-person follow-up.
Telehealth.org July 11, 2023 Telehealth Law: Healthcare Translation Services for Limited English Proficient People One often neglected legal requirement by telehealth practitioners involves translation or language access services for limited English proficient (LEP) patients. This article will outline the federal and state laws, when and to whom they apply, then offer two case scenarios (one medical, another behavioral) to illustrate how they typically work in telehealth and relevant resources.
HealthcareITNews July 10, 2023 Why telemedicine must play a central role in solving the specialist shortage The CEO of Summus Global discusses how virtual specialty care can help overcome patient access challenges – and talks about how employer-sponsored telehealth is one key component.
Telehealth.org July 6, 2023 Addiction Telehealth Using a Patient Gateway: A Multi-Cultural Case Study While many practitioners have been using telehealth systems for years, many have as yet to begin using patient gateways to augment their services, in-person or through telehealth systems. The following article is written as a series of articles explaining how to integrate an emerging technology into one’s clinical practice and how to do so in a culturally appropriate manner. First, the emerging topic selected is that of patient gateways or portals.
Telehealth.org June 29, 2023 Can Healthcare Professionals Share HIPAA PHI without Written Consent? According to the US Department of Human Services (HHS), healthcare professionals can share HIPAA-protected health information (HIPAA PHI) with one another without written content in several circumstances. Such treatment communications may occur orally, in writing, by phone, fax, email, or otherwise. More specifically, the HIPAA Privacy Rule allows covered healthcare providers to share protected health information for treatment purposes without patient authorization, as long as they use reasonable safeguards.
INTERNET FOR ALL June 28, 2023 Expanding Internet through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program High-speed internet can help patients get the health care they need. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced $42.45 billion for BEAD Program funding to connect every American to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service. Each state will receive BEAD Program funding as a part of the Internet for All initiative.
HRSA June 28, 2023 Learn about HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office for the Advancement of Telehealth improves access to quality health care through integrated telehealth services. Learn more about the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth’s grant programs, policy and research efforts, resources, and more.
HealthcareITNews June 26,2023 New survey sheds light on providers' embrace of telemedicine The vast majority of telehealth caregivers in Virginia are confident in the quality of virtual care. Two experts from the Virginia Telehealth Network go in-depth about new poll data that shows its staying power.
mhealthintelligence June 26, 2023 Funding Supports School-Based Telehealth Services in NY State Financial support from various sources will allow Rochester, New York, school students to access telehealth services for acute care and mental health conditions.
Foley & Lardner, LLP June 26, 2023 Good News in Digital Health CB Insights has released their State of Digital Health Report for Q1 2023, and there is finally some good news to report.
mhealthintelligence June 23, 2023 Telehealth Most Commonly Used for Follow-ups, Behavioral Healthcare A new report shows that telehealth usage remained steady from 2022 to 2023, with follow-up and behavioral healthcare cited as the primary reasons for a virtual visit.
mhealthintelligence June 23, 2023 Virtual Care Model Aims to Provide Clinical Support in Nursing Homes A pilot study aimed to virtually apply a pre-existing in-person model to improve clinical support for the growing nursing home population.
Foley & Lardner LLP June 22, 2023 CMS’ Latest Innovation Model – The Making Care Primary (MCP) Model Includes Focus on Social Determinants of Health On June 8, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a new voluntary primary care model, the Making Care Primary (MCP) Model.
Angus King Newsroom June 22, 2023 Collins, King Join Legislation to Expand Telehealth Access U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) joined a bipartisan group of 58 senators in reintroducing the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) for Health Act. The CONNECT for Health Act of 2023 will expand coverage of telehealth services through Medicare, make permanent COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities, improve health outcomes, and make it easier for patients to connect with their doctors.
mhealthintelligence June 22, 2023 Despite Preferences for In-Person Care, Patients Are Open to Telehealth New research indicates that although there is a widespread preference for in-person care, only 10 percent brush off the possibility of using virtual primary care.
healthleaders June 21, 2023 NEARLY 400 NEW DIAGNOSIS CODES COMING THIS FALL, CMS ANNOUNCES Prepare your revenue cycle teams for several hundred new fiscal year 2024 ICD-10-CM codes now finalized to take effect October 1.
mHEALTHINTELLIGENCE June 21, 2023 Hybrid Mobile Program Aims to Assist Opioid Use Disorder Patients A collaborative effort provides two mobile units to assist opioid use disorder patients from underserved Maryland communities through telehealth and in-person care.
mhealthintelligence June 20, 2023 MedPAC: Lower Telehealth Payments to Pre-Pandemic Facility Rates The congressional agency has recommended returning to pre-pandemic facility rate requirements for telehealth services in a report detailing trends in telehealth use through the PHE.
HealthcareITNews June 20,2023 The CONNECT for Health Act is reintroduced, again A bipartisan group of 60 senators reintroduced the updated 2023 version of the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies for Health Act. A companion bill was introduced in the House.