The multi-stakeholder Taskforce on Telehealth Policy is seeking input from the public as it develops policy recommendations to advance quality and patient experience while establishing a stable, long-term environment that fosters the growth and integration of remote services within the healthcare system. The public comment period has been extended to Monday, July 13. Taskforce conveners will [...]
Congress Must Act to Ensure Patients and Providers Don’t Fall Off the “Telehealth Cliff" When Public Health Emergency Ends Today, 340 organizations signed a letter urging Congressional leaders to make telehealth flexibilities created during the COVID-19 pandemic permanent. Those signing this multi-stakeholder letter include national and regional organizations representing a full range of health care [...]
Healthcare Leaders Form Taskforce on Telehealth Policy View a pdf version here. Amidst an unprecedented increase in the use of remote medical services, 20 of the nation's leading healthcare voices today announced the formation of a Taskforce on Telehealth Policy aimed at developing long-term recommendations. The taskforce will be convened by the National Committee for Quality Assurance, Alliance for [...]
The Alliance for Connected Care endorsed H.R.6474 – the Healthcare Broadband Expansion During COVID-19 Act. This legislation would significantly expand funding for the Federal Communications Commission to support healthcare broadband deployment in response to COVID–19.
On April 14, the Alliance for Connected Care wrote the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in response to the COVID-19 Interim Final Rule. The Alliance emphasized the importance of the many changes that were made, and requested several next steps for CMS, leveraging new authorities that is has received under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, [...]
The Alliance for Connected Care commented on the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed rule on "Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Contract Year 2021 and 2022 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicaid Program, Medicare Cost Plan Program, and Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly." In [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 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.