Telehealth's ‘great opportunity’ at community health centers Emily Olsen June 14, 2022 Ray Lowe, senior vice president and CIO at AltaMed Health Services, discusses his organization's move to virtual care at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and how such care can evolve. See original video: https://www.healthcareitnews.com/video/telehealths-great-opportunity-community-health-centers < Previous News Next News >

Amazon Healthcare Building a National Telehealth Business Dr. Maheu, Telehealt.org January 2021 Amazon Care recently announced that it will expand nationally to all Amazon workers and other interested companies across the country in the summer of 2021. Amazon, the $1.6 trillion shipping giant, is launching a new service to provide essential medical services through Amazon Healthcare as a national telehealth business. Amazon Care uses an app that allows consumers to connect with doctors, nurse practitioners, and nurses virtually, 24 hours a day, via in-app chat or video. Initially launched and tested with Washington-based employees, Amazon Care recently announced that it will expand nationally to all Amazon workers and other interested companies across the country in the summer of 2021. “Making this available to other employers is a big step,” Amazon Care Director Kristen Helton said. “It’s an opportunity for other forward-thinking employers to offer a service that helps bring high-quality care, convenience and peace of mind.” Notice the last three descriptors: “high-quality care, convenience and peace of mind.” From the perspective of many healthcare providers, healthcare in the US has been lacking in each of these three areas. For employers registering for the service, which has partnered with Care Medical, employees near their headquarters will get online and in-person doctor visits. Employees elsewhere will get just the virtual components. Through Care Medical, Amazon Care currently offers an app to connect employees to a medical professional for a video consultation. It also offers follow-up care in the home for patients. The goal is to lower healthcare costs internally for Amazon and externally for some of the world’s most influential companies, using telehealth to meet people on their terms, with good care, wherever they are. Amazon’s Multi-Layered Business Strategy Anyone watching Amazon over the last year will be well acquainted with its accelerating moves to provide the early inklings of healthcare. Early Amazon Healthcare efforts were announced by Telehealth.org’s Telehealth News on 6/4/2020. In that article, it was reported that Amazon Health announced a pilot program offering virtual medical services to employees and their families. Amazon then expanded the presence of Alexa voice assistant, announcing that it was making it possible for voice assistant developers to offer HIPAA-compliant services for the Alexa platform. Amazon Pharmacy, a drug-delivering business in 48 states with steep discounts for Prime members was also released in November of 2020. Most recently Amazon has launched another offering called Amazon HealthLake, a HIPAA-compliant service that allows healthcare providers, health insurance companies, and pharmaceutical companies to store, transform, and analyze health data at a petabyte scale. As described on the Amazon HealthLake website: Amazon HealthLake removes the heavy lifting of organizing, indexing, and structuring patient information to provide a complete view of the health of individual patients and entire patient populations in a secure, compliant, and auditable manner. Using the HealthLake APIs, healthcare organizations can easily copy health data in the Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) industry standard format from on-premises systems to a secure data lake in the cloud. HealthLake transforms unstructured data using specialized machine learning models, like natural language processing, to automatically extract meaningful medical information from the data and provides powerful query and search capabilities. Organizations can use advanced analytics and ML models, such as Amazon QuickSight and Amazon SageMaker to analyze and understand relationships, identify trends, and make predictions from the newly normalized and structured data. From early detection of disease to population health trends, organizations can use Amazon HealthLake to conduct clinical data analysis powered by machine learning to improve care and reduce costs. < Previous News Next News >

Teladoc Reports $133M Net Loss in Second Quarter, but Visit Numbers Are Up Kat Jercich, Healthcare IT News July 2021 Meanwhile, Amwell announces its acquisition of SilverCloud Health and Conversa Health. The virtual care giant Teladoc released its earnings report this week, showing a net loss of $133.8 million for the second quarter of 2021. Total net loss for the first half of 2021 was $333.5 million, compared to $55.3 million for the same time period last year. At the same time, the vendor said its $503 million second-quarter revenue earnings had more than doubled compared with 2020. This change led Teladoc to forecast its total yearly revenue to be in the range of $2 billion to $2.025 billion, with a predicted net loss between $3.35 and $3.60 per share. Its visit numbers were also up, at 3.5 million: 28% higher than the second quarter of 2020, during the first wave of the pandemic. The company expected 13.5 million and 14 million total visits this year. After the earnings report, Teladoc's shares fell more than 7% in the extended session Tuesday, as reported by MarketWatch. Still, execs voiced optimism, driven in part by the launch of myStrengthComplete and what the company described as a "significant new agreement" with the Health Care Service Corporation. "Teladoc Health delivered a strong second quarter, marked by exciting new client wins, product launches, and tremendous progress on our quest to be the category-defining provider of whole person virtual care," said CEO Jason Gorevic in a statement. "We have solid momentum heading into the second half as the market embraces the unified care experience that only Teladoc Health has the breadth and scale to achieve," he added. New Amwell acquisitions Teladoc competitor Amwell was also in the news this week for its $320 million acquisition of SilverCloud Health and Conversa Health. SilverCloud Health delivers a range of digital cognitive behavioral health programs, which the company says are evidence-based and clinically validated. According to SilverCloud, the programs are used by more than 300 organizations, including Kaiser-Permanente, Optum and Providence Health. Amwell will use the platform to enrich its own behavioral health offerings and develop new programs. Conversa Health, meanwhile, uses automated patient interactions to ensure patients stay on track before and after live or virtual visits. It is used, the company says, by organizations including Northwell Health, UCSF Health, UNC Health, University Hospitals and Prisma Health. Amwell says it will use Conversa's technology to advance initiatives aimed at longitudinal care, clinical quality and population health. The acquisitions will also enable Amwell to create new digital workflows and programs and expand its client base to include those of Conversa and SilverCloud – especially in the U.K. "We believe that future care delivery will inevitably blend in-person, virtual and digital care experiences; and as such, we are uniquely building a global platform to support such advanced, coordinated care," said Ido Schoenberg, chairman and co-CEO at Amwell. "By integrating SilverCloud Health and Conversa Health into our platform, we are demonstrating Amwell’s fundamental and repeatable design to continually scale digital healthcare services across the different sites of care," he added. "These acquisitions will amplify the presence and reach of care teams and reaffirm that as the needs of the healthcare marketplace evolve so too will the Amwell platform." < Previous News Next News >

Top of Page Agenda Kick-off, Welcome, Intros Opening Remarks Equity Gaps AI + Digital Innovation Medicare Telehealth HCA/Turquoise Care Closing Remarks Innovating Remote Access 2 Innovating Remote Access to Care A New Mexico Telehealth Alliance, Southwest Telehealth Resource Center, & HealthInno NM Collaboration 2024 Q4 Education & Networking Special Event: Date: Thursday, October 17th, 2024 Time: 2:00 - 7:30pm MST Place: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center & Zoom Cost: Complimentary! Agenda INNOVATING REMOTE ACCESS TO CARE A special extended event starting with educational presentations from national and regional experts, followed by Table Talks for networking and small-group discussions, and ending with an open mic session for in-person attendees to introduce themselves and their work, and to announce upcoming events, accomplishments, and collaborative opportunities. The recorded educational presentations linked below focus on trends and updates in remote care delivery, telehealth adoption, regulation, and local efforts to expand innovative approaches to remote access to health care. AGENDA Kick-off, Welcome, Event Partner Introductions Opening Remarks Bridging Health Equity Gaps / Disparities AI + Digital Innovation Medicare Telehealth HCA/Turquoise Care Vision & Strategies Closing, State Legislature Remarks PRESENTATION RECORDINGS, SLIDE DECKS, & SUMMARIES: Kick-off with Event Welcome + Introducing Partner Stefany Goradia, MEIE ( LinkedIn ) Head of Impact + Community, HealthTech Rx Stetson Berg, MPH ( LinkedIn ) Board Chair, New Mexico Telehealth Alliance Alex Carter, PA-C ( LinkedIn ) Board Vice Chair, New Mexico Telehealth Alliance Video Key Points & Highlights Stefany Goradia: Overview of HealthTech RX's mission and event goals Networking and Participation: In person attendees encouraged to network and rotate through 4 Table Talks on diverse healthcare topics. No scheduled breaks; food served and cash bar served opens at 5 PM. Focus Areas: Enhancing care delivery for rural and underserved communities. Exploring partnerships and innovation in digital health solutions. Event Structure: First Half: Educational presentations by local/national experts on trends and regulations (2–5 PM). Second Half: Interactive Table Talks focusing on specific topics (5–7:30 PM). HealthTech RX Role: Functions as innovation hub and convenes stakeholders for collaborative problem-solving. Organizes quarterly events, innovation challenges, hackathons, and pilot programs to address unique healthcare challenges. Event Overview: Q4 HealthInno NM event by HealthTech RX, focusing on healthcare innovation in New Mexico. Aims to bring together healthcare leaders, technologists, policymakers, and stakeholders to improve health equity and economic development. Theme: "Rethinking Remote Care," emphasizing telehealth and tech-enabled care models for underserved communities. Stetson Berg: Telemedicine advancements and local/national scale innovation Alex Carter: Personal and professional insights on telehealth Opening Remarks Elizabeth Krupinski, PhD ( LinkedIn ) Professor & Vice-Chair for Research, Dept. of Radiology & Imaging Sciences, Emory University Associate Director of Evaluation, Arizona Telemedicine Program Director, Southwest Telehealth Resource Center Video Key Points & Highlights Southwest Telehealth Resource Center: Focuses on promoting and supporting telehealth in Four Corners region and Nevada. Aims to expand, start, or improve telehealth programs through training, grant support, and resource sharing. Mission and Goals: Enhance patient care and accessibility using telehealth. Overcome challenges and advocate for telehealth adoption as a standard care tool. Historical Collaboration: Participated in Four Corners Telehealth Consortium, connecting states in the region. Involved in telehealth and digital health initiatives since the mid-1990s, including partnerships in New Mexico. Future of Telehealth: Envisions telehealth as a standard tool for quality care rather than a distinct service. Strives for seamless integration of telemedicine and digital health in healthcare practices. Event Contribution: Supporting educational talks and roundtables to share knowledge and resources. Encourages attendees to adopt telemedicine and digital health practices to improve care delivery. Telehealth: Bridging Health Equity Gaps or Widening Disparities? Michael Holcomb, BS-MIS ( LinkedIn ) Associate Director for Information Technology, Arizona Telemedicine Program Interim Director, Southwest Telehealth Resource Center Carrie Foote, BS, BA ( LinkedIn ) Program Administrator, Southwest Telehealth Resource Center Video Key Points & Highlights Modalities: Synchronous care Asynchronous care Mobile health Remote patient monitoring Requirements: Service availability Broadband internet connection Patient/caregiver Literacy Telehealth compatible technology Patient assistance/accommodations Funding Sources Patient consent Privacy and HIPAA Benefits: Promotes equity by addressing barriers to healthcare access Dismantles geographic constraints Eliminates transportation obstacles Promotes ongoing care for chronic conditions/improves chronic disease management Provides access to specialists Increases access for underserved populations Addresses healthcare professional shortages and healthcare deserts Challenges: Digital divide Language/cultural barriers Digital and health literacy Differential adoption rates Technology comfort level Lack of private space Lack of accommodation for disabilities Telehealth as sole access point Economic barriers Policy barriers Lack of continuity of care Rates of use: High: 73% - young adults 18-24 69% - earn $100k/year 66% - private insurance 62% - white Low: 38% - no high school diploma 44% - older adults >65 51% - Latino and Asian 54% - black Disproportionally impacted by digital divide: Elderly Racial/ethnic minorities Disabled Low-income Rural Limited English proficiency Inherent biases in some technologies Solutions for equitable access: Provider education Assessing patient readiness Infrastructure expansion (broadband) Digital health literacy Telehealth access points Telehealth in libraries Partnerships and leadership Evidence-based solutions AI + Digital Innovation in Healthcare Elizabeth Krupinski, PhD (LinkedIn ) Professor & Vice-Chair, Research Dept. of Radiology & Imaging Sciences, Emory University Associate Director of Evaluation, Arizona Telemedicine Program Director, Southwest Telehealth Resource Center Video Key Points & Highlights Background: Expert in medical imaging, AI, and human-computer interaction Leadership roles in telemedicine and imaging societies AI in Healthcare: AI is transforming healthcare through predictive analytics, ambient clinical intelligence, and wearable technology. 64% of U.S. hospital systems already use AI, primarily for sepsis prediction, reducing hospital readmissions, and improving efficiency. Key AI Applications: Predictive Models: Identifying risks like sepsis and patient decompensation. Ambient Clinical Intelligence: Automatically documenting clinical interactions to save time and improve patient-provider communication. Wearables: Devices like sensors in clothing and rings to monitor health metrics and predict adverse events. Embodied AI: Robotics for tasks like patient transport, medication delivery, and remote communication. Challenges in AI Adoption: Bias: AI often reflects biases in training datasets, leading to inaccuracies in diverse populations. Transparency: Many AI tools lack the ability to explain their decisions, hindering clinical trust and utility. Regulation: Limited FDA oversight of AI tools creates potential risks in their clinical use. Data Quality: Poor data and limited external validation can reduce AI effectiveness. Deskilling: Over-reliance on AI could hinder skill development in healthcare professionals. Ethical and Practical Considerations: Addressing privacy concerns in ambient listening technologies. Balancing the use of AI with human judgment to prevent cognitive biases and over-reliance. Developing explainable AI to enhance clinical decision-making. Future Potential: AI-enabled tools for automating repetitive tasks, improving workflows, and enhancing diagnostics. Integration of advanced biometrics to detect conditions like depression, anxiety, or autism using subtle cues like voice or eye movement. Opportunities to improve healthcare equity by addressing systemic biases in healthcare algorithms. Medicare Telehealth: How to Plan Patient Care During Uncertainty Carol Yarbrough, MBA-TM (LinkedIn ) Business Operations Manager, Telehealth Resource Center, UCSF Medical Center Video Key Points & Highlights Background: Specialization in healthcare compliance, reimbursement, and telehealth policy. Offers guidance on billing, coding, and regulatory compliance for telehealth services. Medicare Telehealth Evolution: Telehealth policy began with Social Security Act (2001), limiting originating sites and eligible providers. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, telehealth services were expanded significantly. Policy Changes and Uncertainty: Public health emergency waivers allowing broad telehealth access are set to expire. Congress and CMS are deliberating future policies, with potential extensions being debated. DEA policies on telehealth prescriptions, especially controlled substances, remain unresolved. Current Telehealth Codes: Medicare supports 268 telehealth CPT codes; some are provisional and may be removed. Behavioral health services retain strong telehealth support, including Audio-Only services (with limitations). Indigenous Health Telehealth Initiative: New federal funding supports telehealth access for indigenous communities in pilot states (e.g., California, Oregon, New Mexico). Practice Management Insights: Clinics should prepare for potential policy changes by documenting telehealth utilization and exploring asynchronous care options. Consider workflow optimizations to balance telehealth and in-person care. Legislative Advocacy: Stakeholders are encouraged to engage with legislators to support permanent telehealth policies. Advocacy is particularly crucial for urban areas where telehealth services might be curtailed. Future Outlook: CMS might provide short-term extensions while working on long-term solutions. New opportunities include caregiver training via telehealth and innovative uses for asynchronous care. HCA/Turquoise Care Vision + Strategies for Expanding Remote/Access to Care Alexandria Castillo Smith, MPH, MSW ( LinkedIn ) Deputy Cabinet Secretary, NM Healthcare Authority Video Key Points & Highlights Overview of Turquoise Care (TC) Goals Goal 1 – Build a NM healthcare delivery system that is accessible for both preventive and emergency care that supports the whole person (PH, BH, SDOH). Goal 2 – Strengthen the NM healthcare delivery system through expansions and implementation of innovative payment reforms and VBC initiatives. Goal 3 – Identify groups that have been historically and intentionally disenfranchised and address health disparities through strategic program changes to enable an equitable chance at living healthy lives. TC Health Plans Blue Cross Blue Shield of NM Molina Healthcare Presbyterian Turquoise Care United Healthcare Community Plan New TC Benefits New Home Visiting Program for New Mothers Reimbursement for Community Health Workers Chiropractic Services Continuous coverage for children up to age 6 Changes to Telemedicine During Covid-19 Promoted access to video and phone telehealth services Expanded proportion of members in rural and urban areas that were able to access care HCA Approach to Telemedicine: TC Contract Requirements Quarterly Telemedicine Report to HCA from MCOs Audiovisual asynchronous, remote monitoring Training for providers of appropriate services for telemedicine Targets set to increase telemedicine usage by 20% or be penalized. NM Medicaid Telemedicine Services Telemedicine Must include audio and visual Be delivered real-time a the originating and distant site No restrictions on services that can be offered via telehealth If provider resides outside of NM they must be licensed in NM Telephone Able to reimburse for all telephonic visits covered during the Public Health Emergency After 12/31/2024 will follow the codes that are permitted by Medicare, primarily BH codes. Project ECHO Have hubs of virtual learning opportunities on a wide variety of topics for providers MCOs support Project ECHO and encourage utilization Collaborates with Indian Health Services Have a unique relationship with Medicaid Program MCOs identify members who would benefit from Project ECHO MCO Support for Advancing Telemedicine Providing access to high-speed internet for rural communities Bring in new providers that focus on telehealth services and specialties Scholarships to health professionals Grants to physician practices to keep providers in NM Tribal Communities’ Health Care Priorities Native American Technical Advisory Committee – 13 Tribes represented Goals include: Increase BH services for Native Americans Increase Medicaid reimbursable provider types and services for HIS and Tribal clinics Increase the number of long-term care options Increase NA enrollment in Medicaid Rebuilding Behavioral Health in NM Received CMS federal approval to begin to provide Medicaid coverage to those exiting incarceration up to 90-before release Raising BH Medicaid reimbursement rates up to 150% of Medicare rates 6 Certified Community BH Clinics (CCBHCs) slated to launch in 2025 Support for pregnant members with Substance Use Disorder Added 5 new BH Practices for enhanced rates, encouraging more providers to expand their services Rural Health Care Delivery Fund $80 Million in funding available to rural health care providers Expansion and delivery of new services in rural communities, including telehealth services NM Telehealth Alliance, NM State Telehealth Law, and Closing Remarks Stetson Berg, MHA ( LinkedIn ) Board Chair, New Mexico Telehealth Alliance Video Key Points & Highlights New Mexico Telehealth Alliance (NMTA): Established in late 1990s to advocate for and advance telehealth in New Mexico. Focuses on policy, legislation, and connecting stakeholders to solve telehealth challenges. Telehealth Law in New Mexico: Among the most progressive in the U.S., enabling telehealth billing parity for audio, video, asynchronous, and remote patient monitoring services. State law allows billing for phone visits, as clarified in 2022 "audio only" update. Applies to fully insured health plans under NM Office of Insurance and specific public health plans, but not Medicaid, Medicare, or self-insured plans. Legislation and Advocacy: NMTHA worked with legislators to craft state-friendly telemedicine policies before the pandemic. Advocating for expanded reimbursement models to ensure telemedicine services are financially sustainable for providers and facilities. Resources and Collaboration: Offers webinars, online resources, and direct problem-solving for billing, policy issues, and other telehealth barriers. Collaborates with federally funded organizations like Southwest Telehealth Resource Center for expertise and solutions. Reimbursement Challenges: Payment parity exists but often doesn't cover operational costs for telehealth services, especially in rural settings (e.g., f inancial strain on providers/facilities delivering telemedicine with insufficient reimbursement). Interstate Practice Issues: Licensure laws vary by state, complicating cross-border care for established patients. Efforts to create interstate compacts for streamlined licensure are ongoing but involve significant paperwork and limitations. Call for Feedback and Participation: NMTHA encourages stakeholders to share telehealth challenges and ideas to inform future legislative and operational improvements. Slides: Equity Slides: AI Slides: Medicare Kick-off, Welcome, Intros Equity Gaps Opening Remarks AI + Digital Innovation Medicare Telehealth HCA/Turquoise Care Slides: HCA Closing Remarks Slides: NMTHA

7 ways asynchronous telehealth powers digital-first health systems Bright MD February 11, 2022 As the consumerization of healthcare becomes more of a reality, a digital-first approach to care is being explored by more and more systems throughout the U.S. Today’s top tech advancements range from remote patient monitoring to AI & machine learning to virtual reality—and to asynchronous telehealth. Couple the desire to keep revenue flowing with crippling capacity constraints, and it’s no wonder many are looking to asynchronous telehealth options. With the right solution, systems can lower overall costs of care, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce administrative burden on doctors. Below, we rounded up the top seven ways asynchronous telehealth helps power a digital-first approach to healthcare. Asynchronous telehealth improves patient access to quality care. If used correctly, asynchronous technology can help improve access to quality care, and at Bright.md, that remains at the core of our product. Bright.md’s asynchronous platform addresses key barriers to access, including transportation, language, technology, cost, wait times, health literacy and inclusivity. An asynchronous platform that helps with care access and health equity should also allow for connection without broadband—Bright.md operates on any device with an Internet connection. Our team of developers, writers, and clinicians constantly ensures the platform is built and maintained for a diverse patient population and is continually updating the interface to be inclusive of gender identities, socioeconomic background, and other factors. Read full article here: https://bright.md/blog/7-ways-asynchronous-telehealth-powers-digital-first-health-systems/?utm_source=bmd&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digest&mkt_tok=OTE3LUNaTy01MjgAAAGCxeGYND3bypsZRJow17HWYcm7FV1UodVW5MMo0KV-rlLhWbj7O4nds9NlFF4YftlRgpIV3qUhHg3ujjoEwJyrxYI6TzFC91UMO3Svi7Y9xSA < Previous News Next News >

CCHP: Audio only vs. Live Video Use... Center for Connected Health Policy February 15, 2022 The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) Office of Health Policy recently released a new Issue Brief titled National Survey Trends in Telehealth Use in 2021: Disparities in Utilization and Audio vs. Video Services. The analysis found a number of trends that can be helpful in understanding remaining telehealth barriers and their interaction with health care disparities. Utilizing Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey (HPS) information from 2021, the study focused on differences in use between live video and audio-only telehealth modalities. Overall findings showed that telehealth use was common and utilization rates were generally similar across most demographic subgroups, except those that were uninsured. Utilization rates of live-video telehealth, however, were found to be lower among underserved populations, such as those with lower incomes and Black, Latino, and Asian respondents. To read the full article: https://mailchi.mp/cchpca/new-aspe-issue-brief-addresses-audio-only-vs-live-video-use-and-interaction-with-healthcare-disparities < Previous News Next News >

Telehealth Legislation Re-Introduced National Council for Behavioral Health March 12, 2021 This week, Sens. Portman (R-OH) and Whitehouse (D-RI) and Reps. McKinley (R-WV), Budd (R-NC), Cicilline (D-RI), and Trone (D-MD) re-introduced the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act. The legislation, first introduced last Congress, seeks to support the expansion of telehealth services for substance use care. The TREATS Act would allow for the prescription of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) without a prior in-person visit, and for Medicare to be billed for audio-only telehealth services. The National Council supports these efforts to expand access to needed substance use services. This week, Sens. Portman (R-OH) and Whitehouse (D-RI) and Reps. McKinley (R-WV), Budd (R-NC), Cicilline (D-RI), and Trone (D-MD) re-introduced the Telehealth Response for E-prescribing Addiction Therapy Services (TREATS) Act. The legislation, first introduced last Congress, seeks to support the expansion of telehealth services for substance use care. The TREATS Act would allow for the prescription of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) without a prior in-person visit, and for Medicare to be billed for audio-only telehealth services. The National Council supports these efforts to expand access to needed substance use services. < Previous News Next News >

Biden-Harris Administration Announces Availability of Up To $500 Million in Emergency Rural Health Care Funds Under the American Rescue Plan U.S. Department of Agriculture August 2021 Funding Will Expand Access to COVID-19 Vaccines, Health Care Services and Food Assistance in Rural America The Biden-Harris Administration today announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making up to $500 million available in grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services and nutrition assistance. President Biden’s comprehensive plan to recover the economy and deliver relief to the American people is changing the course of the pandemic and providing immediate relief to millions of households, growing the economy and addressing the stark, intergenerational inequities that have worsened in the wake of COVID-19. “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is playing a critical role to help rural America build back better and equitably as the nation continues to respond to the pandemic,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said. “Through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants, USDA will help rural hospitals and local communities increase access to COVID-19 vaccines and testing, medical supplies, telehealth, and food assistance, and support the construction or renovation of rural health care facilities. These investments will also help improve the long-term viability of rural health care providers across the nation.” Background: Beginning today, applicants may apply for two types of assistance: Recovery Grants and Impact Grants. The Biden-Harris Administration is making Recovery Grants available to help public bodies, nonprofit organizations and tribes provide immediate COVID-19 relief to support rural hospitals, health care clinics and local communities. These funds may be used to increase COVID-19 vaccine distribution and telehealth capabilities; purchase medical supplies; replace revenue lost during the pandemic; build and rehabilitate temporary or permanent structures for health care services; support staffing needs for vaccine administration and testing; and support facility and operations expenses associated with food banks and food distribution facilities. Recovery Grant applications will be accepted on a continual basis until funds are expended. The Administration also is making Impact Grants available to help regional partnerships, public bodies, nonprofits and tribes solve regional rural health care problems and build a stronger, more sustainable rural health care system in response to the pandemic. USDA encourages applicants to plan and implement strategies to: -develop health care systems that offer a blend of behavioral care, primary care and other medical services; -support health care as an anchor institution in small communities; and -expand telehealth, electronic health data sharing, workforce development, transportation, paramedicine, obstetrics, behavioral health, farmworker health care and cooperative home care. Impact Grant applications must be submitted to your local USDA Rural Development State Office by 4:00 p.m. local time on Oct. 12, 2021. For additional information, please see the notice (PDF, 343 KB) in today’s Federal Register. USDA encourages potential applicants to review the application guide at www.rd.usda.gov/erhc. USDA Rural Development is prioritizing projects that will support key priorities under the Biden-Harris Administration to help rural America build back better and stronger. Key priorities include combatting the COVID-19 pandemic; addressing the impacts of climate change; and advancing equity in rural America. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov/priority-points. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov . If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page. USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. Under the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov . < Previous News Next News >

New MACPAC Report to Congress: Recommendations to improve mental health access include telehealth Center for Connected Health Policy June 2021 Recommended ways to improve access to mental health services for adults, children, and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC) released its June 2021 Report to Congress last week that recommends ways to improve access to mental health services for adults, children, and adolescents enrolled in Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). While the report and recommendations did not evaluate telehealth directly, they did occasionally reference telehealth’s ability to increase access to mental health services and recommend that the promotion of telehealth be included in various programmatic guidance. For instance, the report highlights telehealth programs that connect youth to telehealth counseling services and recommends the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) issue joint guidance addressing how Medicaid and CHIP can be used to fund a behavioral health crisis continuum that includes how telehealth can be used to ensure access to crisis care. They also recommend that opportunities to cover telehealth and other technology-enabled services be described in CMS and SAMHSA guidance specific to children and adolescents with significant mental health conditions. The report additionally looks at how to promote care integration through electronic health records (EHRs) and value-based payment (VBP) programs, which include measures related to expanded use of telehealth. It also discusses the non-emergency transportation (NEMT) benefit in Medicaid, mentioning that many changes in how the program is administered are occurring which require additional data to assess its value, such as how expanded availability of telehealth services may lessen its need in certain circumstances. For more information, please access the full MACPAC report - https://www.macpac.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/June-2021-Report-to-Congress-on-Medicaid-and-CHIP.pdf < Previous News Next News >

Legislation Legislation New Mexico Legislation S.B. 93 - Broadband Access and Expansion Act H.B. 141 - ED Infrastructure Technology Definition S.B. 24 - Parity of Regulation of Telecommunication Federal Telehealth Legislatio n H.R. 7992 - Telehealth Act (2019-2020) H.R.3228 - VA Mission Telehealth Clarification Act (2019-2020) H.R.4900 - Telehealth Across State Lines Act (2019) H.R.5473 - EASE Behavioral Health Services Act (2019-2020) H.R.7233 - Knowing the Efficiency and Efficacy of Permanent Telehealth Options Act (2020) H.R.7338 - Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID–19 Act (2020) S.2408 - Telehealth Across State Lines Act (2019) S.3988 - Enhancing Preparedness through Telehealth Act (2019-2020) S.4039 - TELEHEALTH HSA Act (2020) S.4216 - KEEP Telehealth Options Act (2020) Federal Broadband Legislation H .R.205 - To accelerate rural broadband deployment. H.R.4229 - Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act S.4021 - Accelerating Broadband Connectivity Act of 2020

NM Telehealth Workgroup Hosted by the New Mexico Telehealth Alliance 7/29/2021 New Community Forum for NM Healthcare Peers on Telehealth Topics This is a monthly community forum to discuss telehealth issues with your healthcare peers. The intent is to help New Mexican systems advance remote care. Topics will change monthly and be directed by what the group members ask for. Hosted by the New Mexico Telehealth Alliance, our first session on July 29 is a collaboration with Presbyterian Healthcare Services and the University of New Mexico. We will explore audio only post-pandemic billing using HCPCS code G2252. Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nm-telehealth-community-forum-registration-163947169397 < Previous News Next News >

A New Model For Healthcare: Adding Telehealth To Unclog Patient Flow ‘Hot Spots’ Dr. Corey Scurlock MD, MBA June 8, 2022 It may not match the scale of the exodus of nurses from the healthcare workforce, but a growing shortage of physicians is no less of a threat to patient care. A recent survey found that one in five doctors plan on leaving the profession in the next two years, hastening a projected shortfall of as many as 124,000 doctors by 2034. This has reached such a concerning level that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy have launched a strategic advisory to mitigate clinical burnout. More Information: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/06/08/a-new-model-for-healthcare-adding-telehealth-to-unclog-patient-flow-hot-spots/?sh=248c6d415725 Covid-19 and longstanding concerns about changes in the business of healthcare have left many physicians burned out. Older doctors are seeking early retirement, and younger doctors seek a more balanced work/life ratio. Many aren’t interested in some of the all-consuming specialties such as critical care, neurology, oncology and psychiatry. As with everything else in our world right now, supply is not meeting demand. Action is required, but it can’t just rely on yesterday’s solutions. Opening up more slots in medical schools won’t fill the immediate need for experienced, board-certified physicians. Buying up physician practices is largely played out, as most doctors are already employed. I would argue that we can’t wait for a new MD pipeline to open up. Instead, we need to fix the broken practice of medicine. Doctors are burned out because they are locked into 15-minute appointment cycles wrapped around the exigencies of electronic health records systems that demand complete documentation of each step, leaving little time for the “How are you, Ms. Jones?” moments. Patients are unhappy with eight-month waits for new patient appointments to confirm diagnoses of serious diseases. Within the hospital, a lack of staff and available expertise meets up with broken processes to choke off patient flow from the emergency department to laboratories to medical floors. Staff personnel stand around waiting for paperwork. Patients wait on gurneys for everything. By the time things are straightened out, the original order might no longer be appropriate for a patient. Discharge alone has become a major headache. One antidote to this is to create a hybrid model of care as I have done with my company and as my business helps other companies do. It relies on points in the care process being actively managed remotely by specialist physicians who also have a background in telehealth. These veterans should understand where timely intervention can unblock patient flow at “hot spots” in a patient’s journey caused by delays in care, inappropriate care transitions or potential patient harm. Telehealth-enabled monitoring can reduce transfers by accurately assessing patient acuity and overseeing the work of less-experienced hospital staff. Through these interactions, the goal is to see reduced patient readmissions and ED visits, shorter hospital stays and better utilization of resources. Of course, all of this begs the question: If the hospital can’t find enough specialists, how can virtual care physicians fill these roles? The answer is pretty simple, in my opinion. You bring back the joy of being a doctor. These telehealth doctors work from home, linked to pods of multi-specialists who work with the same hospitals, getting to know the staff. They can work when they like and as much as they like. They access the medical record but are called upon to solve problems, full stop. You can also make sure their work is always varied. Doctors want to heal, not master the intricacies of Epic’s latest software. With the tailwind of favorable policy and reimbursement the telehealth industry is experiencing right now, it might be an opportune time to consider this type of strategy. But as one explores telehealth as a business venture, it's important to recognize that all such business is still highly regulated, as it is in the field of care delivery. The core components of an end-to-end telehealth solution include people, process and technology. Here are some thoughts on each. • Technology: Audio-video providers have matured significantly, and increasing interoperability has enabled new entrants. Health systems have sought to standardize enterprise platforms versus best-of-breed applications. Clinical analytics tools can be overlaid on the EMR leading to simpler clinical insight gathering. While not mandatory, such systems target quality or performance metrics to support ROI. • Process: Efforts to virtualize care can be disruptive to care delivery. Consider what technology platforms to purchase, KPIs to measure and clinical workflow to create. • People: Delivering telehealth-enabled care will place the highest regulatory burden on an organization. Malpractice, state licensing and credentialing, and HIPAA, to name a few, are considerations that need to be tackled first. Secondly, your attention to provider experience is paramount to ensure a healthy and sustainable workforce to attract talent. As Covid-19 wanes, we are facing unprecedented change in the provisioning of care. New care models will emerge. Telehealth is not the only solution, but it is clear that it will be a primary one. A recent survey (registration required) of health system CEOs by the University of Colorado’s Health Administration Research Consortium put virtual care as the No. 1 strategy for future growth. For those looking for solutions to today’s healthcare challenges, here are three points to remember: • Telehealth is here to stay: It could be the great equalizer for care access and equity. • Patient flow is key: By focusing on the patient journey across the continuum, hot spots can be identified and targeted. • Clinical and operational alignment are needed: People, processes and technology can combine as a force multiplier to return greater value, but only if everyone has agreed on a care road map. As telehealth goes, we are not battling efficacy anymore; we are battling inaction and the cost such inaction creates. I believe unlocking the potential of all our nation's providers can deliver better care everywhere. It's time to imagine what the design of the next-generation, digitally-enabled clinical workforce looks like, and it's all about access and equity in care delivery. < Previous News Next News >

2022 Proposed Physician Fee Schedule Center for Connected Health Policy July 2021 ...I want my MTV (Mental Telehealth Visits)! On July 13, 2021, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released their proposed CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). The PFS is historically where CMS will make administrative changes to telehealth policy in the Medicare program. As the pandemic begins to stabilize and restrictions begin to lift, there has been great concern as to what will happen with the temporary telehealth changes on the federal level. The CY 2022 proposed PFS is one step towards addressing those questions. Telehealth Services & Communications Technology Based Services (CTBS) The PFS is traditionally where CMS will add additional telehealth services to the eligible telehealth services list for Medicare. No new services were added in the CY 2022 proposal. Instead, CMS made permanent adoption of G2252, virtual check-in service of 11-20 minutes, which was introduced in last year’s PFS and noted that the temporary services they had placed in Category 3, also in last year’s PFS, will remain active until the end of CY 2023 and not the end of the year that the public health emergency (PHE) is declared over. Mental Health & Audio-Only The most significant proposals involve the provision of mental health services via telehealth and utilization of audio-only to deliver those services. In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) which included a change to federal telehealth policy. That change allowed for the provision of mental health services in the home and without the geographic limitation, if the patient had an in-person visit with the telehealth provider within six months prior to the telehealth service taking place. CMS is implementing that policy and outlined details in the PFS noting that the in-person visit would need to have taken place before each telehealth encounter. Therefore, if you had an in-person visit with your telehealth provider a month before you received services via telehealth, that visit would qualify. But if you wanted a follow-up visit eight months later via telehealth, you would need to have another in-person visit with that provider. Additionally, CMS stated that because of the likelihood that mental health services provided via technology will continue post-pandemic, the concern about cutting off people who receive such services, and the efficacy of utilizing audio-only to provide mental health services, the agency is revisiting its stance on how it defines “interactive telecommunications system.” In federal statute, telehealth is provided through a “telecommunications system.” There is no federal definition for “telecommunications system.” In regulations, CMS added the word “interactive” before “telecommunications system.” CCHP has always maintained and provided comments to CMS over the years that given the lack of a federal statutory definition for “telecommunication system,” it is within CMS’ power to change the definition to be more expansive. In comments to last year’s PFS and at the end of the year when the public was solicited for comments regarding the temporary waivers, CCHP reiterated this position. In their response to comments in last year’s PFS, CMS noted that they “continue to believe that our longstanding regulatory definition of “telecommunications system” reflected the intent of statute and that the term should continue to be defined as including two way, real-time, audio/video communications technology.” In the proposed CY 2022 PFS, CMS has reassessed their position. Based on data from COVID-19 and other factors, CMS is proposing to allow the use of audio-only to provide mental health services in the Medicare program if: It is for an established patient; The originating site is the patient’s home; The provider has the technical capability to use live video but, The patient cannot or does not want to use live video and There must be an in-person visit within six months of the telehealth service. Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)/Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) CCHP has maintained that additional flexibilities may be given to FQHCs and RHCs without Congressional action by redefining what constitutes as a “visit” for these entities. CMS is proposing to expand the definition of a “mental health visit” for FQHCs and RHCs by including that definition mental health services provided through “interactive, real-time telecommunications technology” including audio-only. For the latter, the patient must not be capable or not consent to the use of live video. Additionally, the rate paid to FQHCs and RHCs will be their prospective payment system (PPS) rate or all-inclusive rate (AIR). It should be noted that FQHCs and RHCs will still be not be considered distant providers providing telehealth services. This is a definition change to what constitutes a “mental health visit” for these entities. Therefore, that would also mean that the statutory limitations on the use of telehealth, such as geographic limits, would presumably not apply if CMS is not viewing this as “telehealth” but simply as a visit for these entities. Other items were proposed in the CY 2022 PFS. To read about those proposals and a more in-depth look at the aforementioned ones, download CCHP’s fact sheet (below). Public comments on the PFS are due September 13, 2021. CCHP’s fact sheet - https://www.cchpca.org/2021/07/Proposed-CY-2022-Physician-Fee-Schedulefinal.pdf < Previous News Next News >

New HHS-OIG Reports on Telehealth Challenges and Oversight in State Medicaid Programs Center for Connected Health Policy September 2021 Last week the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) released two new telehealth reports, both related to the use of telehealth to deliver behavioral health services to Medicaid beneficiaries. HHS-OIG breaks up their study into two reports. Last week the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) released two new telehealth reports, both related to the use of telehealth to deliver behavioral health services to Medicaid beneficiaries. HHS-OIG breaks up their study into two reports: *States Reported Multiple Challenges with Using Telehealth to Provide Behavioral Health Services to Medicaid Enrollees (Challenges Report) which focuses on state care delivery issues, and *Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Evaluation and Oversight of Telehealth for Behavioral Health in Medicaid (Evaluation Report), which looks closer at state data collection and evaluation efforts. The reports are both based on surveys HHS-OIG conducted with Medicaid directors from 37 states as well as various stakeholders in early 2020. The surveys were particularly focused around telemental health delivery through managed care organizations, however most stakeholders focused on general telehealth issues in their responses. While the information was gathered pre-pandemic, HHS-OIG applies the findings to support understanding and recommendations to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) around post-pandemic telehealth policy. Key Challenges: Lack of Telehealth Training and Limited Broadband In terms of challenges related to care delivery via telehealth, the number one issue reported by 32 out of 37 surveyed states, was a lack of provider and enrollee training. In HHS-OIG’s interviews, stakeholders described not only provider issues related to use of telehealth technology, but also lack of education around telehealth coverage and reimbursement policies. Lack of internet access came in as the second highest challenge, reported by 31 out of 37 states. Broadband issues raised included not only enrollees having insufficient broadband speeds, but some clinics in rural areas having no broadband access at all. Other challenges provided by state Medicaid programs included: -Concerns around how providers protect patient privacy and personal information. -Lack of interoperability between provider electronic health record systems and how to increase provider sharing of patient information. -The high costs of telehealth infrastructure, such as initial equipment costs as well as maintenance and repair costs. -A lack of licensure reciprocity across states. -A lack of understanding around telehealth consent policies. Citing how CMS has given states broad flexibility in how they structure their telehealth policies, the recommendations from the report to CMS focus on increasing creation and dissemination of additional informational and educational resources, such as best practices amongst states, funding options related to broadband and interoperability, and creating a state plan amendment template that could additionally assist states in covering some ancillary infrastructure costs. Evaluation: Telehealth Data and Oversight Within the Evaluation Report which focused more on data collection and analysis, HHS-OIG found that only 3 out of 37 states are unable to track which services are provided via telehealth, however only 2 out of 37 states have evaluated that data specific to impacts on access to behavioral health services and only one state has evaluated telehealth impacts on cost. The report notes that though other states didn’t directly evaluate telehealth data however, they did provide information on observational telehealth impacts based on their experiences with telehealth. For instance, 17 out of 37 states reported that telehealth increases access to providers and a few states also noted potential cost savings, while 6 out of 37 said the impact of telehealth on cost is largely uncertain. The final focus of the Evaluation report was related to telehealth quality assessments and oversight by Medicaid agencies. While 10 out of 37 states noted concerns around quality, one state mentioned quality as more of a clinical practice issue, and two states believed provider training could address such concerns. In regard to oversight, only 11 states were said to conduct monitoring specific to telehealth, while other states noted they oversee all services the same. HHS-OIG made much stronger and more specific recommendations when it comes to state oversight and evaluation, suggesting the need for additional telehealth specific measures by CMS, states, and managed care organizations. Looking Ahead The HHS-OIG reports highlight many of the broad issues and questions related to telehealth that have become forefront in policymakers’ minds over the past year and half, such as challenges around addressing the digital divide and how to best evaluate telehealth impacts. The recommendations point toward a few different potential post-pandemic pathways for CMS mainly around increasing education and oversight. As we’ve seen confusion grow around what state Medicaid agencies believe CMS allows them to do as permanent telehealth policy, such as around federally qualified health centers (FQHCs), perhaps the most essential recommendation made by HHS-OIG comes back to increasing coordination amongst state Medicaid agencies with CMS. The reports’ limited scope to behavioral health services through managed care organizations is also notable in terms of policy application even though state and stakeholder responses may have been more general. For instance, many states and policymakers seem to be focused around Medicaid fee-for-service policies more so than managed care, as well as reimbursement challenges, such as payment parity and similar fee schedule considerations. In addition, the HHS-OIG study did not break down any differences or feedback by telehealth modality, while many states and stakeholders have been focused on the future of audio-only availability – especially as a way to address the challenge of limited broadband access. In terms of evaluating data, while many states may have not had a data evaluation plan in place at the time of HHS-OIG survey, many now do as a result of recently enacted legislation predicated on the surge of use and attention to telehealth during the pandemic. Therefore, it may be interesting for HHS-OIG to consider conducting a similar more broad survey in a year or two after states have had more time to collect and wrap their heads around the data. Challenges Report: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-02-19-00400.pdf Evaluation Report: https://oig.hhs.gov/oei/reports/OEI-02-19-00401.pdf < Previous News Next News >

Most Americans Support Expansion of Asynchronous Telehealth Options Mark Melchionna July 21, 2022 A new survey shows that a majority of Americans support legislation that would expand asynchronous telehealth, thereby increasing access to care, particularly mental healthcare. Two-thirds (69 percent) of Americans are in favor of legislation to expand access to asynchronous telehealth, according to a new survey. Telehealth company Hims & Hers Health worked with polling firm Public Opinion Strategies to conduct a survey of 1,301 US adults between Feb. 13 and 17. The results indicate that optimizing telehealth and changing policies are critical. The COVID-19 pandemic significantly affected healthcare overall, resulting in an increased need for care, especially for behavioral healthcare. Dig Deeper Why Asynchronous Telehealth Has Been a Boon for Patients, Providers New Bill Seeks Nationwide Medicare Coverage for Asynchronous Telehealth Services Asynchronous Telehealth Can Extend Primary Care at Community Health Networks The survey found that only 38 percent of respondents reported having good mental health, which was lower than the 52 percent who said the same in February 2021. But about 60 percent of respondents said that accessing care is a problem. Researchers then collected data regarding virtual care methods that could help widen mental and physical healthcare access. About 55 percent of survey respondents said they have participated in a telehealth visit, higher than the 10 percent who reported the same in June 2019, 29 percent in April 2020, 43 percent in August 2020, and 51 percent in February 2021, according to the survey. In addition, asynchronous telehealth use is of high interest among survey respondents. About 69 percent of respondents favor legislation that could increase access to asynchronous telehealth. These types of legislation are most popular among Democrats (77 percent) and Black adults (76 percent), though high proportions of Republicans (60 percent) and Hispanic adults (70 percent) are also in support. In addition, a vast majority of healthcare workers (82 percent) indicated high levels of support for expanding asynchronous telehealth. “Patients want to receive care in the way that works best for them, and this is increasingly a combination of telehealth support via synchronous real-time video consultation and asynchronous interactions, as well as in-person care between providers and patients," said Galen Alexander, director of public affairs at Hims & Hers, in an email. "Telehealth, both synchronous and asynchronous, can help address some of the mental health crises our country is facing. Based on this representative survey, Americans want to be in control of their care and would like to see legislators allow for different modes of receiving care.” Previous research has also indicated an increasing need for telemental healthcare. A study published in January showed that despite a slight decline in overall telehealth use, virtual mental healthcare remained popular. It also revealed that mental health conditions were the most common telehealth diagnosis in September and October 2021. Lawmakers do appear to be taking steps to expand telemental healthcare. In May, four US Senators released a discussion draft of telehealth policies for mental healthcare initiatives that focus on increasing access and directing insurers to support virtual care. For original article: https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/most-americans-support-expansion-of-asynchronous-telehealth-options < Previous News Next News >

Elo and 19Labs Partner To Offer Next Generation Telehealth Kiosks PR Newswire and 19 Labs July 2021 The partnership allows pharmacies, schools, and rural communities to go beyond just video calls and deploy eClinics with smart diagnostic devices and remote monitoring. The hospital-at-home trend is rapidly changing the healthcare industry. COVID-19 has accelerated telehealth technology's rate of innovation, and the industry has advanced by more than five years in just five months. Healthcare companies are now moving quickly to provide care in new locations and serve new use cases, bringing healthcare access not just to the home but also to other places like rural communities, schools, and pharmacies. 19Labs and Elo are working together to bring eClinics to these new locations globally. 19Labs' GALE eClinics are next generation point-of-care platforms that seamlessly integrate leading mobile and healthcare technologies into cost-effective and smart solutions such as telehealth carts, healthcare kiosks, or portable telehealth kits. They are highly secure, easily deployable, and can be operated by anyone with minimal training. "19Labs' eClinics enable our customers to easily deploy enhanced telehealth using the world's most advanced diagnostic devices: from ultrasound, ECGs, and even blood pressure," said Dan Ludwick, Chief Product Officer, Elo. "The eClinics do more than just video calls. They bring together Zoom, Amwell, custom wellness applications, and remote patient monitoring into a solution that can be easily used by anyone, which can drastically reduce operating and deployment costs." "Elo has been a great partner," says Ram Fish, 19Labs CEO & Founder. "They are a dynamic, innovative company with global reach, and we are happy to work with them in making healthcare more accessible worldwide. Their Android-based touchscreen systems are beautiful, well-engineered, and provide a unique, affordable solution to deploying kiosks in different form factors within the healthcare industry. Elo's tablets are built-to-last and highly reliable. Their commercial-grade hardware is complemented by great Android implementation. These make Elo's solutions perfect for enhanced telehealth." In Oaxaca, Mexico, the state's health ministry has been rapidly deploying 19Labs' eClinics. Dr. Lorena Ocampo, Chief Coordinator of Telemedicine at Oaxaca's Ministry of Health, says the next generation healthcare kiosks will significantly increase healthcare accessibility and quality in the region. "It's been a pleasure working with 19Labs and Elo. The impact these units have on the healthcare conditions within the community, and the ability to easily access advanced medical care, radically improves the quality of service that we are able to provide." About Elo As a leading global supplier of interactive solutions, #EloIsEverywhere. To date, we have deployed more than 25 million installations in over 80 countries. A new Elo touchscreen is installed every 21 seconds, on average, somewhere in the world. Built on a unified architecture, Elo's broad portfolio allows our customers to easily Choose, Configure and Connect & Control to create a unique experience. Choose from all-in-one systems, open-frame monitors and touchscreen monitors ranging from 10 to 70 inches. Configure with our unique Elo Edge Connect peripherals that allow use-specific solutions. Connect & Control with EloView®, a secure cloud-based platform for Android-powered devices. EloView enables secure deployment and management of a large network of interactive systems designed to reduce operating costs while increasing up-time and security. Consumers can find Elo touchscreen solutions in self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, interactive signage, gaming machines, hospitality systems, point-of-care displays and transportation applications—to name a few. Learn more at EloTouch.com. About 19Labs 19Labs is the creator of GALE, Next Generation Point-of-Care platform for pharmacies, schools, and rural communities. GALE brings together "best of breed" diagnostic technologies from industry leaders like Zoom, Elo, Amwell, Eko, Samsung Mobile, MIR, Omron, Viasat, and many others in one smart, efficient, and cost-effective platform. It was designed from the ground up to be operated by non-healthcare professionals, in locations with limited infrastructure and optimized for low bandwidth and intermittent connectivity. To learn more about GALE, please visit www.19labs.com/platform. < Previous News Next News >

Trends in Telehealth: CCHP's 50 State Telehealth Policy Summary Report, Fall 2022 Center for Connected Health Policy October 18, 2022 Today the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) is releasing its bi-annual summary of state telehealth policy changes for Fall 2022. Additionally, we are also making available a summary chart showing where states stand on many key telehealth policies, as well as an infographic highlighting our key findings. The most current information in CCHP’s online policy finder tool may be exported for each state into a PDF document. The Fall 2022 summary report adds in two new jurisdictions, Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands, and covers updates in state telehealth policy made between July and early September 2022. Note that in some cases, after a state was reviewed by CCHP, it is possible that the state may have passed a significant piece of legislation or implemented an administrative policy change that CCHP may not have captured. In those instances, the changes will be reviewed and catalogued in the upcoming Spring 2023 edition of CCHP’s Summary Report. As in previous editions, information in the policy finder remains organized into three categories: Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws and professional requirements. Additionally, for this edition, CCHP received support from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) through funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to create a specific category on federally qualified health center (FQHC) Medicaid fee-for-service policies. FQHCs have many unique rules that apply to them that sometimes effect their ability to utilize telehealth, such as the definition of a visit/encounter in the Medicaid program. The new FQHC category takes these considerations into account and will help FQHCs be able to more easily navigate to the policies that specifically affect them. See full article: https://mailchi.mp/cchpca/just-released-cchps-50-state-telehealth-policy-summary-report-fall-2022trends-in-telehealth-policy < Previous News Next News >

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Contact SBRL Community Contacts Get answers to your Federal and State broadband questions: New Mexico broadband contacts Federal broadband contacts Contacts for New Mexico broadband questions: Rand Tilton, NM Department of Informatio n Technology (NM DoIT)/Broadband Rand.Tilton@state.nm.us Gar Clarke, NM DoIT Geospatial Program Manager Presented October 2021 webinar: "NM Broadband and What’s Next." Recording: HERE Sli des: HERE NM Broadband Program (NMBBP ): Online Interactive Broadband Map Statewide Broadband Strategic Plan (June 2020) NM Speed Tester New Mexico Contacts for Federal broadband questions: U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan: Sen. Lujan wants to know about telehealth or broadband barriers and successes you have experienced. Telehealth barriers and successes: M e lanie_Goodman@lujan.senate.gov Health polic y matters: Calli_Shapiro@lujan.senate.gov Broadband and telecommunications matters: Jeffrey_Lopez@lujan.senate.gov. Senator Ben Ray Lujan's recording about New Mexico telehealth: HERE Federal

Telehealth Mini-Grants NM BHSD March 16, 2021 BHSD would like to announce the release of funding in the form of telehealth mini-grants. Deadline for receipt of letters of interest: 5 pm April 9, 2021 Please send letters of interest to: Cynthia Melugin at cynthia.melugin@state.nm.us To CYFD and BHSD Non-Medicaid Providers: Dear New Mexico Providers: BHSD would like to announce the release of funding in the form of telehealth mini-grants. When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, BHSD will no longer be able to support behavioral health providers who are delivering behavioral health services through telehealth systems that are not HIPAA compliant. We are now offering funding to help providers come into compliance so that critical behavioral health services will not be disrupted. If your agency is currently delivering services using the telephone and/or another non-HIPAA compliant system, this grant could help you make the transition. BHSD is seeking letters of interest that respond to this question: what is your current telehealth system, and what do you need to become HIPAA compliant? Funding is available in amounts of up to $50,000 per agency, and all work must be completed by the end of 2021, which is when the PHE is currently set to expire. Letters of interest should include: • Specific hardware and/or software and costs • Training for staff and administrators and costs • Anticipated changes to practice model • How many practitioners/staff members do you expect to train • How many clients do you anticipate serving with your new system • Timeframe for making changes BHSD will expect any agency that receives funding to report back on progress made on each of these points. Deadline for receipt of letters of interest: 5 pm April 9, 2021 Please send letters of interest to: Cynthia Melugin at cynthia.melugin@state.nm.us < Previous News Next News >