JAMA Network Open: Telemedicine Use and Quality of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic A study found that there were no significant differences in telemedicine and in-person opioid use disorder (OUD) care. This cohort study analyzed patients with OUD with commercial insurance or Medicare Advantage coverage. Results of [...]
The Alliance for Connected Care joined a letter, led by the Connected Health Initiative (CHI).
This update includes: Coverage of the Alliance letter sent last week Advocacy opportunities MedPAC meeting recap and notable research and news developments
Stroke: Telehealth Trials to Address Health Equity in Stroke Survivors A review, by researchers from UTHealth Houston, found various benefits of telehealth for a range of stroke complications. The researchers found that telehealth addresses barriers related to mobility challenges and special equipment needed to access clinic spaces by removing the need for transportation altogether. [...]
JAMA Network Open: Trends and Characteristics of Buprenorphine-Involved Overdose Deaths Prior to and During the COVID-19 Pandemic This study found that eased rules permitting doctors to prescribe buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder through telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic didn’t result in a rise in the share of overdose deaths involving the drug. The report, from [...]
This update includes: Alliance Urges CMS to Preserve Beneficiary Access to Telehealth Services Virtual Prescribing of Controlled Substances CBO Cost Estimates of Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Renewed and notable research and news developments
Journal of General Internal Medicine: Incorporating TechQuity in Virtual Care Within the Veterans Health Administration: Identifying Future Research and Operations Priorities Personnel from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) published a list of priorities for researchers as they begin to examine real and potential inequities in telehealth. Researchers convened a think tank of clinicians, [...]
American Journal of Managed Care: Integrating Third-Party Apps with Electronic Health Records to Support COVID-19 Response This study found that the health IT market experienced a rapid increase in telehealth EHR integrations following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Telehealth EHR integrations were twice as likely to contain specialized capabilities [...]
American Journal of Managed Care: Differences in Telehealth During COVID-19 Between Commercial and Medicaid Enrollees This study found that during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, California managed care enrollees had higher rates of telehealth use compared with Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) enrollees, regardless of insurer. Among FFS enrollees, those enrolled in Medicaid [...]
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an updated list of Medicare telehealth services for calendar year 2023, which removes the 151-day restriction. All telehealth codes should now be active through December 31, 2023. Action Needed to Align Payment with Congressional Authority On January 13, 2023, the Alliance for Connected [...]