University of Alabama at Birmingham: Telehealth's Growth During the Pandemic Expanded Mental Health Accessibility A study published in the Journal of Counseling & Development found that overall mental health care accessibility took a step forward during the pandemic due to telehealth. The study aimed to understand whether or not patients seeking mental health care services, like therapy or [...]
This update includes: DEA Signals It's Open To Revising Telehealth Rules Medicare Contractors Will Keep Paying for Remote Monitoring HRSA Office for the Advancement of Telehealth Interstate Licensure Resources and notable research and news developments
Annals of Family Medicine: The Telemedicine Experience in Primary Care Practices in the United States The need to rapidly implement telemedicine in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic was addressed differently by various practices. Using qualitative data from semi-structured interviews with primary care practice leaders, the researchers of this study identified four overarching themes, [...]
Association of Community Cancer Centers: Digital Tools in Cancer Care The Association of Community Cancer Centers conducted a survey, which found that providers, patients, and caregivers were willing to utilize digital, remote patient-monitoring (RPM) tools to report symptoms throughout anti-cancer treatments. Key survey results found more than half (60 percent) of providers who implemented an RPM program said [...]
This update includes: Medicare Administrative Contractors Announced There Will Not Be a Local Coverage Determination (LCD) for RPM and RTM Reintroduction of the Protecting Rural Telehealth Access Act GOP Lawmakers Press Department Of Labor (DOL) To Extend Standalone Telehealth CMS Extends COVID-19 Telehealth Flexibilities for Hospital Outpatient Therapies and notable research and news [...]
JAMA Health Forum: Overall and Telehealth Addiction Treatment Utilization by Age, Race, Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Status in California After COVID-19 Policy Changes This cohort study found that disparities in addiction treatment utilization were not exacerbated following expansion of telehealth during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Researchers examined whether there were differences [...]
Health Services Research: State Medicaid and Private Telemedicine Coverage Requirements and Telemedicine Use Medicaid coverage of telehealth services between 2013 and 2019 was associated with significant increases in telehealth use and health care access. Medicaid telehealth coverage requirements were linked to a 6.01 percentage-point increase in the use of live video communication. Additionally, states with [...]
Journal of Medical Internet Research: Telemedicine Use by Age in Louisiana Medicaid During COVID-19 This claims-based longitudinal analysis found that Medicaid beneficiaries between the ages of 50 and 64 had higher telehealth claims during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to those aged 18 to 34. In April 2020, the 50 to 64 age group [...]
Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network: A Report on Patient Experience of Care In this retrospective study, researchers found that cancer patients who use telemedicine report better experiences than cancer patients treated in person. Researchers evaluated patients with solid tumors or hematologic malignancies who were treated at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. [...]
This update includes: DEA, SAMHSA Extend COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescribing Controlled Medications for Six Months FAQ – CMS Waivers, Flexibilities, and the End of the COVID-19 PHE Fact Sheet – Telehealth Flexibilities and Resources and the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency and notable research and news developments