As part of its announcement on “Sweeping Regulatory Changes to Help U.S. Healthcare System Address COVID-19 Patient Surge the Administration included significant additional Medicare telehealth changes, including: CMS will now pay for more than 80 additional services when furnished via telehealth. These include emergency department visits, initial nursing facility and discharge visits, and home visits, [...]
View this past event at Recording Available: Virtual Hill Briefing – Using Telehealth to Address the Coronavirus Public Health Emergency Alliance for Connected Care 1100 H St NW, Washington, D.C. United States crystal.wallace@connectwithcare.org
The President has signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (H.R.748). The language is a significant advancement for the telehealth community. Here is a topline of the key telehealth provisions in the bill - Sec. 3212. Telehealth network and telehealth resource centers grant programs. This section would amend the current Telehealth Network and [...]
A March survey found that 59% of the 500 U.S. consumers surveyed said they are more likely to use telehealth services now than previously, and 36% said they would switch their physician in order to have access to virtual care.
On March 25, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar sent a letter to Governors calling on them to take a number of actions to strengthen the healthcare workforce as it faces the COVID-19 pandemic, including: Allow licensure across state lines - either in person or through telemedicine Waive state-level regulatory barriers to [...]
National Governors Association Memorandum to Governors on Telehealth and State Licensure Requirements On March 20 and 24, the National Governors Association (NGA) issued memorandum to State Governors on “Gubernatorial Strategies for Telehealth” and "Gubernatorial Strategies for Health Care Workforce and Facility Capacity." The first memo noted the many state actions that have already been taken [...]
On March 20, a group of leading organizations called on Congress to pass legislation that amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers and health plans to cover telehealth services pre-deductible in Health Savings Account-eligible high deductible health plans during this health care crisis. This legislation would build on efforts by Congress to [...]
Leading organizations called on Congress to pass legislation that would amends the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow employers and health plans to cover telehealth services pre-deductible in Health Savings Account-eligible high deductible health plans during this health care crisis. Download PDF
Leading telehealth, provider, and expert groups sent a letter to leaders in the House and Senate for a follow-up tweak for healthcare providers to be able to better use the Medicare telehealth provision from the first COVID-19 (coronavirus) package.
Letter to Congressional Leaders from Leading Telehealth, Provider, and Expert Groups Asking for a Follow-up Tweak for Healthcare Providers to be able to Better use the Medicare Telehealth Provision from the First Coronavirus Package. Download PDF