HHS-OIG Reports on Pandemic Medicare Telehealth Trends to Inform Permanent Policies Center for Connected Health Policy Nov. 2, 2021 The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) released a telehealth report on October 18th that looked at the relationship between providers and Medicare patients utilizing telehealth between March and December 2020. Specifically, HHS-OIG examined encounter claims data to determine the presence of pre-existing relationships, dates of any prior visits, and the types of services provided. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) released a telehealth report on October 18th that looked at the relationship between providers and Medicare patients utilizing telehealth between March and December 2020. Specifically, HHS-OIG examined encounter claims data to determine the presence of pre-existing relationships, dates of any prior visits, and the types of services provided. Interestingly, it was found that though pre-pandemic requirements limiting telehealth visits to established patients were waived, 84% of visits still occurred within those parameters. In addition, as policymakers consider making some telehealth pandemic policies permanent, some stakeholders have suggested a need to require an in-person visit within a certain period of time in order to be eligible for a telehealth visit. However, the data collected by HHS-OIG shows such requirements may not be necessary, as Medicare patients were found to already have had an in-person visit on average within four months prior to the telehealth visit without such a requirement. Additional findings included: Beneficiaries most commonly received e-visits, virtual check-ins, and telephone evaluation and management services via telehealth from providers with whom they had an established relationship Beneficiaries received about 45.5 million office visits delivered via telehealth, which accounted for nearly half of all telehealth services 86% of traditional Medicare beneficiaries received a telehealth service from providers with whom they had an established relationship, compared to 81% of Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries who received home visits via telehealth, which represented only 1% of all services provided via telehealth, were the least likely to have an established relationship with their providers The average amount of time between beneficiaries’ in-person visits and their first telehealth services varied by type of service Beneficiaries who received home visits via telehealth had an in-person visit with their providers at an average of around 9 months prior to first telehealth service Beneficiaries who received nursing home visits and assisted living visits via telehealth had an in-person visit at an average of 2 months prior to their first telehealth service HHS-OIG notes that the provision of this data seeks to inform policymakers looking at long-term telehealth policy and making certain pandemic expansions permanent, especially in light of concerns around telehealth fraud and abuse. For instance, it could help in examining the necessity of one of the most controversial, and confusing, permanent federal changes made thus far as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, which post-PHE will require an initial in-person visit within 6-months of a tele-behavioral health visit for purposes of Medicare reimbursement. However, the requirement only applies if the service is not provided in a geographically rural area and at a qualifying medical facility. There is also an exception for treatment of substance use disorder and co-occurring mental health treatment. In addition, CMS is proposing to make the 6-month in-person visit a requirement for subsequent visits in the proposed calendar year 2022 physician fee schedule. For non-behavioral health visits, the 6-month requirement wouldn’t apply, however patients would need to be located in a rural area and eligible facility type to qualify for Medicare reimbursement. Some Medicaid programs are considering limiting telehealth use to established patients, occasionally also applying restrictions to specific modalities and services. However, the HHS-OIG findings may suggest that it is unnecessary to limit telehealth to certain patients and services to prevent fraud and abuse as standard practice may already be providing sufficient guardrails in those respects. In addition, the study findings could indicate that the issue may be more related to general standard of care concerns that apply across all services, not just those delivered via telehealth. The balance may then include looking at how to manage health care fraud generally, which elsewhere HHS-OIG has clarified that most fraud is not telehealth specific. The issue could then boil down to how much autonomy to provide clinicians when making medical determinations, including when a telehealth visit is appropriate. Typically oversight in that respect has been under the purview of clinical licensing boards, not governed by general laws, but as we shift outside of the pandemic it is possible we may see additional shifts in terms of these policy approaches. As policymakers balance these multiple findings, perspectives and concerns, it remains to be seen how such data will be applied or used to justify permanent policies. It will also be important to continue to weigh these factors against general access to care issues so as to not inadvertently limit telehealth as a means of ensuring patients can receive necessary medical services. Additional information on the HHS-OIG study can be found by viewing the brief and complete report. < Previous News Next News >

Transforming Homes And Communities Into Healthcare Hubs In The Post-Covid Future Ryan Hullinger and Sarah Markovitz August 2021 Hospital design experts Ryan Hullinger and Sarah Markovitz discuss the inevitable shifts in healthcare delivery as technology leads to new care settings and rethinking hospitals. The explosion of telehealth prompted by the Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated a shift in care delivery away from the hospital and clinic and into homes and communities. While hospitals have historically been the main hub of care, technology and new care models are enabling a different approach to care delivery. Rather than episodic preventative care, in which a patient periodically goes to a physician or hospital with a health concern, this new model of care is continuous and ubiquitous—with ongoing care reinforced in the home, office, school and throughout the community. There are three key aspects to this shift: advancing technology, new care settings, and the future evolution of hospitals. Advancing Technology Healthcare may follow a familiar path blazed by online retail. It was not that long ago that virtually everyone preferred in-person retail experiences to shopping online. The technology that would later make online shopping experiences superior to brick and mortar just didn’t exist. Telehealth, by comparison, is still in the dial-up days. It’s difficult to imagine now, but based on the patterns we have seen clearly in other technology sectors, it’s probable that some healthcare experiences will be better remotely than in-person—more convenient, and less stressful and time consuming. The technology that will transform telehealth is on the horizon. It will take several R&D cycles, but it will come. In fact, there’s evidence that in areas like behavioral health telehealth is already comparable in efficacy to in-person care. What might the next generation of telehealth look like? For one, rather than sequential visits with separate specialists, patients may be able to connect to a suite of caregivers, all working collaboratively to provide more coordinated, effective care. The type of continuous, convenient touch-bases and flow of information enabled by telehealth and wearable devices could be particularly effective for the elderly and those with chronic conditions, where communication and ensuring compliance with medication and preventive care are often an issue. There will also likely be an expansion in the types of care and services that can be provided, including everything from post-surgical appointments, to ED triaging, and eventually more complex tests as new diagnostic technologies emerge. Automated technologies and artificial intelligence will also play an increasingly vital role in improving health throughout the community. AI technologies are being used to scan patient records, identify patients with hypertension and diabetes, and remind physicians to check in regularly with them. Hospitals have already shown good results using telehealth, texting and improved monitoring to help vulnerable populations and those with chronic conditions. Improved telehealth and health data capabilities could extend widescale efforts like these, improving population health efforts. New Care Settings With technology acting as a facilitator, more and more forms of care, especially routine procedures, will migrate away from hospitals and clinics. The home could become the new healthcare hub, with prefabricated telehealth units for the home that integrate medical technologies with telehealth capabilities. The explosion of smart home, home health and health monitoring devices, encompassing everything from sensors that detect sudden falls to smart watches that monitor heart rate and O2 levels, is only the tip of the iceberg. With the ability to monitor health data and communicate effectively with caregivers, the home could be a crucial site for preventive medicine, chronic disease management and ongoing care. The home health model is only one possible model—the technologies that enable it may have shortcomings, or prove unaffordable to large segments of the population, further exacerbating health inequities and the digital divide. But healthcare can still be provided in a wide range of locations distributed throughout communities. Libraries, schools, community centers, homeless shelters and pharmacies could become hubs for telehealth resources and care, serving a vital role in improving the health of communities. A key consideration will be access and location—ensuring that healthy equity and care for vulnerable populations drives where these new care hubs emerge. How Hospitals May Evolve As care becomes increasingly continuous and ubiquitous, the role of the hospital may evolve. Rather than serving as a destination for all patient types, it will become increasingly specialized and streamlined, focusing on high acuity cases. They may expand their capabilities and efficiency in areas like perioperative and high-end imaging that are not available in community settings. In the process, hospitals are likely to become more compact, high performing and efficient by narrowing their focus. As part of this evolution, hospitals may also need to bolster their ability to expand capacity by 50-100% in anticipation of emergencies like epidemics, mass casualties and weather-related crises. In the last 20 years, many hospitals have invested heavily in improving patient comfort and satisfaction, and have even borrowed processes and designs directly from the hospitality industry—creating patient environments that nearly resemble hotel lobbies and guestrooms. Patient satisfaction will continue to be a driver, but the environments that promote satisfaction are likely to change drastically. New environments that convey a sense of safety and cleanness will begin to feel more comfortable than the hospitality-informed designs of the past. As this shift and gradual downsizing takes place, there may be opportunities to adapt existing space for other uses. The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated the dramatic impact of stress on healthcare workers. Hospitals now have an opportunity to provide sufficient and appropriate space for staff, helping to build resiliency to counter staff burnout and ensure the well-being of these truly essential workers. Hospitals could also aim to provide more community, patient and staff resources, such as spaces to demonstrate telehealth technologies and how to use them, or new hybrid offices equipped for telehealth. As technologies, new care settings, and hospitals evolve, care will become more embedded in our daily lives. The pandemic may have spurred new interest in telehealth, but the trends shaping the future of care predate social distancing. They will continue to transform how and where care is delivered, ushering in a new era of ubiquitous healthcare. Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/coronavirusfrontlines/2020/10/26/transforming-homes-and-communities-into-healthcare-hubs-in-the-post-covid-future/?sh=133370e04153 < Previous News Next News >

Telehealth Resources NMTHA's Telehealth Resources provide information on the following topics: New Mexico Organizations New Mexico Broadband Interstate Telemedicine Licensure Telehealth Organizations & Associations Teleheath Training COVID & Telemedicine NM Based Orgs NEW MEXICO ORGANIZATIONS Health Insight New Mexico New Mexico Association for Home & Hospice Care New Mexico Health Resources New Mexico Primary Care Association SYNCRONYS (New Mexico Health Information Exchange) University of New Mexico Center fo r Telehealth UNM Project ECHO NEW MEXICO BROADBAND NM Broadband Program Overview of Broadband Program - Videos Mapping Training Resources Strategic Planning INTERSTATE & TELEMEDICINE LICENSURE Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (NM is not yet a participant) Federation of State Medical Boards New Mexico Physician Licensure Requirements (including telemedicine) New Mexico Physician License Application instructions (see last page for telemedicine) NM Broadband Interstate Licensure TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATIONS & ORGANIZATIONS American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Center for Connected Health Policy Center for Telehealth & e-Health Law Southwest Telehealth Resource Center National Library of Medicine National Telemedicine Initiative Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS) Telemed Associations Org. TELEHEALTH TRAINING Telemental Health Training : Providing healthcare organizations and clinicians with ethical, legal, technological, and clinical frameworks for conducting effective telehealth sessions. Telehealth Trainings : The Arizona Telemedicine Training Program and Southwest Telehealth Resource Center offer 1-day training courses on telemedicine and telehealth. National Consortium of Telehealth Resources : Building a telehealth program? Browse through our offerings from Telehealth Resource Centers. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, use our contact form or give us a call. We have an abundance of resources available! Weitzman Institute : Weitzman ECHO (Extension for Community Health Outcomes) provides specialty support for primary care providers seeking to gain expertise in management of certain complex illnesses and conditions, including COVID-19, MAT, Chronic Pain, and more. TH trainings New Mexico: A Leader in Telehealth Laws New Mexico has one of the most progressive telehealth statutes in the entire U.S. View Statutes Experts in Telehealth: An Interview Series A series of brief interviews from local and regional experts sharing experience, insights, and guidance on telehealth. Access Interviews Get answers from the NM Department of Information Technology (NM DoIT). Contact NM DoIT Broadband Questions? Contact U.S. Senator Ben Ray Lujan to discuss you r telehealth issues, ideas, and goals. Policy & Advocacy Contact Senator Lujan COVID & TELEMEDICINE NEWMEXICO.gov (Guidance for Providing Patient Care by Electronic Means During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency.) NM Medicaid, COVID-19, and Telehealth Resources NM-HSD April 6, 2020: Special COVID-19 Supplement #3 – Guidance for New Mexico Medicaid Providers NRTRC COVID-19 and Telehealth Resources ATA COVID-19 Response Webinar Series eHealth Initiative COVID-19 News, Resources, and Events Weitzman Institute COVID-19 Resource Page An Analysis of Private Payer Telehealth Coverage During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Center for Connected Health Policy) UNM Resources: COVID-19 briefings COVID-19 practice guidelines COVID-19 therapeutic evidence Covid resources Top of Page NM Based Orgs NM Broadband Interstate Licensure Telemed Associations Org. TH trainings Covid resources

Suicide Prevention and Stigma Reduction with Dr. Alison Arnold Dr. Alison Arnold November 18, 2022 Danielle speaks with Dr. Alison Arnold, the Director Interdisciplinary Center for Community Health & Wellness at Central Michigan University (CMU). In this episode we discuss CMU's Preventing Suicide in Michigan Men (PRiSMM) program and how we utilize telehealth to address mental health disparities and increase access to care. See original article with audio: https://www.umtrc.org/podcasts/season-2-episode-19/ < Previous News Next News >

CMS Proposes to Extend Telehealth Flexibilities Through 2023 Thomas Sullivan Oct 24, 2021 CMS Proposes to Extend Telehealth Flexibilities Through 2023 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed in the 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to extend telehealth flexibilities through 2023 instead of through the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency, which is expected to run through this year. Physician groups in comments on the rule called for a permanent solution beyond the dates set by CMS. Groups also submitted comments on MIPS Value Pathways (MVPs), ACO policies, and pending payment cuts. The final rule is expected around November 1, 2021. Telehealth Telehealth advocates called upon CMS to amend the proposed 2022 Physician Fee Schedule to permanently extend emergency measures on telehealth access and coverage that were enacted to deal with the pandemic. Many also called upon Congress to expand telehealth services. “The ATA commends the Biden Administration for their actions in support of telehealth, and we appreciate CMS’ intent to ensure Medicare beneficiaries continue to have access to quality healthcare when and where they need it,” ATA CEO Ann Mond Johnson said in its letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure. “However, as important as the Physician Fee Schedule is, we urge Congress to act before the vast majority of Medicare beneficiaries go off the ‘telehealth cliff’ at the end of the public health emergency.” “The ATA understands that CMS is simply following Congress’ lead, though we are hopeful Congress will correct this wrong in the statute,” Johnson said. “There is no clinical evidence for an arbitrary in-person requirement before a patient can access telehealth services. However, in the proposed rule, CMS considers requiring an in-person visit, not only within the ‘six-month period prior to the first time’ the provider furnishes telehealth to the individual, as stated by law, but also within six months prior to subsequent telehealth visits. This effectively creates a new, arbitrary requirement for the patient to have an in-person mental health visit every six months should the patient plan to seek telehealth services with that provider.” The Medical Group Management Association also commented that removing services after a “predetermined or prescriptive date” could create a major administrative burden for practices already strained financially by the pandemic. “Member group practices report that adjusting workflows to operationalize the use of new telehealth codes requires additional resources, such as clinician and staff training and patient education,” MGMA said in comments. “Removing telehealth services from the covered code list will prove disruptive to both practices and patients alike, as patients have become accustomed to receiving these services virtually.” MIPS Value Pathways and ACOs The proposed rule calls for beginning use of the value pathways program in MIPS for 2023 and having it replace MIPS entirely in 2027. MVP is intended to align clinician reporting requirements, but the American Hospital Association (AHA) said it’s unclear whether the program would reduce administrative burden as expected or that it would be equitable across specialties. AHA said it “believes that unless and until CMS can address several conceptual issues with MVPs … CMS should not set a date certain for transitioning to mandatory MVP participation.” The Medical Group Management Association also had concerns, particularly about provider burden. Group purchasing organization Premier addressed the proposed rule’s changes to reporting from accountable care organizations. It applauded the more gradual move to using electronic clinical quality measures, citing the reporting burden associated with them. Premier also asked CMS to recognize that ACO reporting is “fundamentally different from reporting by clinicians and groups.” The National Association of ACOs echoed those comments. Pay Cuts In comments on the proposed rule, physician groups were also worried about a looming 3.75% cut in the 2022 Medicare conversion factor, which calculates reimbursement for procedures under fee-for-service. The cuts are mandated under a budget neutrality provision in Congress and comes after a pay bump from Congress that expires in 2022. The AMA said that it is urging CMS to work with Congress for relief on the budget neutrality issue. “CMS should exercise the full breadth and depth of its administrative authority to avert or, at a minimum, mitigate these unconscionable payment cuts,” the group added. https://www.policymed.com/2021/10/cms-proposes-to-extend-telehealth-flexibilities-through-2023.html < Previous News Next News >

Memorial Hermann to provide school-based pediatric telehealth Naomi Diaz October 18, 2022 Houston-based Children's Memorial Hermann has partnered with telehealth company Hazel Health to provide outpatient pediatric care to K-12 students in Houston. Under the partnership, schools that have agreements with Hazel will be able to offer their students access to health services via virtual telehealth sessions, according to an Oct. 17 press release. Children's Memorial Hermann pediatricians or specialists will connect with the students through the program for follow-up or long-term care management. The aim of the partnership is to increase access to pediatric care in schools across 12 counties in southeast Texas. See original article: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/telehealth/memorial-hermann-to-provide-school-based-pediatric-telehealth.html < Previous News Next News >

Spending Bill to Extend Telehealth, Hospital-at-Home Waivers for 2 Years Anuja Vaidya December 20, 2022 The year-end package includes two-year extensions for Medicare telehealth flexibilities enacted during the pandemic and the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program. The year-end $1.7 trillion spending bill includes provisions to extend pandemic-era telehealth and hospital-at-home waivers for two years. The legislation, released Tuesday, aims to avert a government shutdown and includes several healthcare provisions, including reducing the 2023 Medicare payment cuts to 2 percent from 4.5 percent. In a win for telehealth proponents, the sweeping bill also includes a two-year extension of telehealth-related regulatory flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. A previous bill extended these flexibilities for five months after the public health emergency expires. Now, the waivers will remain in place through Dec. 31, 2024, if the legislation passes both the House and Senate and is enacted into law. The flexibilities include eliminating geographic restrictions on originating sites for telehealth services, enabling Medicare beneficiaries to receive services from any location, and allowing federally qualified health centers and rural health centers to continue providing telehealth services. Further, the waivers lift the initial in-person care requirements for those receiving mental healthcare through telehealth and allow for continued coverage of audio-only telehealth services. In addition to extending the Medicare telehealth waivers, the new legislation includes a two-year extension of the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program. Introduced in November 2020 by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Acute Hospital Care at Home Program allows treatment for common acute conditions in home settings. As of Dec. 16, 259 hospitals across 37 states were participating in the program. The safe harbor for telehealth coverage for those with high deductible health plans (HDHPs) with health savings accounts (HSAs) will also be extended by two years if the new bill passes. The safe harbor provision enables people with HDHP-HSAs to receive telehealth coverage without meeting their annual deductible first. "Today, our Congressional telehealth champions on both sides of the aisle came through for the American people and for ATA and ATA Action members, by meeting our plea for more certainty around telehealth access for the next two years, while we continue to work with policymakers to make telehealth access a permanent part of our healthcare delivery for the future," said Kyle Zebley, senior vice president of public policy at American Telemedicine Association and executive director of the association's advocacy arm, ATA Action, in an emailed press release. But the new legislation does not include a similar two-year extension for the waiver of the Ryan Haight Act. The Ryan Haight Act of 2008 required providers to meet with a patient in person before being allowed to prescribe controlled substances for that person via telehealth. The in-person visit requirement was temporarily lifted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, several stakeholders, including the American Telemedicine Association and American Psychiatric Association, have asked that Congress permanently eliminate the Ryan Haight Act. The latest spending bill does, however, direct the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to create final regulations regarding the circumstances under which a special registration for telemedicine may be issued. Providers obtaining a special registration for telemedicine would be allowed to waive the in-person visit requirement. Earlier this month, the American Hospital Association had also asked that the DEA clarify regulations for the special registration process and provide recommendations for an interim plan. "…the hard work continues, as we persist in pressing telehealth permanency and creating a lasting roadblock to the 'telehealth cliff,'" said Zebley. "Additionally, we will continue to work with Congress and the Biden administration to make sure that a predictable and preventable public health crisis never occurs by giving needed certainty to the huge number of Americans relying on the clinically appropriate care achieved through the Ryan Haight in-person waiver." See original article: https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/spending-bill-to-extend-telehealth-hospital-at-home-waivers-by-2-years < Previous News Next News >

Why is an Alliance needed? NMTHA assists with ensuring telehealth program dollars are applied effectively and efficiently through : Clinical coordination Technical coordination Health information technology Administrative Services Federal, State, and private funds are spent on telehealth programs with little or no attention to coordination with other programs, efficient reuse of existing resources, and delivering the best level of cost-effective services. Existing and proposed programs create a patchwork of telehealth solutions with overlaps, gaps, and little long-term accountability. No entity coordinates telehealth statewide and ensures that telehealth programs and dollars generate the best possible health benefits for New Mexicans. How can New Mexico ensure dollars spent on telehealth programs are applied effectively and efficiently? New Mexico needs an organization to provide the following telehealth-related services: Clinical Coordination: Identifying healthcare delivery needs, finding organizations to deliver healthcare services, monitoring the delivery, and ensuring improved health outcomes. Technical Coordination: Identifying the proper technical solution for healthcare service delivery including equipment evaluation, telecommunications connectivity, reuse of existing resources, scheduling, network management, support, and maintenance. Health Information Technology: Managing information exchange among healthcare providers and ensuring compliance with federal, state, and other standards. Administrative Services: Reimbursement issues, administrative policy and procedures, legislative issues, and general management of the telehealth process. Every dollar spent on coordination ensures that dollars spent on specific telehealth programs generate the greatest improvement in health across all programs and regions of the State. Be part of the solution! Join the New Mexico Telehealth Alliance JOIN NOW

Transgender Telemedicine and Telehealth Services: A Tremendous Asset Dr. Maheu, Telehealth.org August 2021 Telehealth services can also be effective in reaching communities not isolated by location but marginalized by identity. One of the most significant arguments for telehealth services is their ability to reach people in underserved communities. Telehealth.org described some of the foundational issues in its article The Future of Telehealth, Teletherapy, and Telemedicine. The article specifically highlighted telehealth as a means of overcoming geographic limitations. However, telehealth services can also be similarly effective in reaching communities not isolated by location but marginalized by identity. In particular, transgender telemedicine & telehealth services provide significant benefits to the trans community. Challenges Facing the Transgender Community Telehealth.org outlined many challenges facing transgender individuals seeking services in its article Transgender Telemedicine: Inequities and Barriers in Health Care Access. In seeking therapy services, one of the most substantial dissuading factors reported by transgender individuals is fear of discrimination. This fear does not come without significant evidence. Last year, the Supreme Court decided to extend trans individuals the same discrimination protections other groups already experience under employment laws. Even after that landmark decision, 38% of Americans still indicate they do not support the rights of trans people. With so-called bathroom bills and legislation that prevents trans girls and women from participating on sports teams for women, the current American legislative landscape continues to be challenging. Location and marginalization often intersect. Trans individuals living in rural areas often face a general lack of available services. Additionally, available clinicians usually do not have a trans-informed perspective. Similar concerns exist in politically conservative areas. How Transgender Telemedicine and Telehealth Services Help the Trans Community As noted above, telehealth services have already been an asset to assist individuals who are geographically isolated. It should be just as effective in reaching trans individuals in those areas as helping others. For those isolated by discrimination and fear of discrimination due to their trans status, telehealth can also help. By allowing people in the trans community to reach beyond their geographic limitations, they immediately have access to a larger pool of supportive clinicians who can provide trans-informed services. Telehealth transgender services also provide increased anonymity to a degree for trans people. In many of rural America’s small towns, people know each other by vehicle. Seeing someone’s vehicle parked in front of a mental health or drug treatment facility can often send the town’s gossip mill into a tailspin. By accessing discrete trans telemedicine or telehealth services to their homes, people avoid this harmful exposure. Can Transgender Telemedicine & Telehealth Services Continue? Trans individuals used telehealth 20 times more in the past 18 months than they ever have before. This new safe therapy avenue, however, may not last. Just two weeks ago, four states either ended many of their telehealth expansion policies or announced their intention to do so. Federally, the waivers introduced by the CARES Act will expire in October unless renewed or made permanent. The system is in transition and it may well end up leaving behind some of the progress it has made. Transgender Telemedicine and Telehealth Advocacy The time is now to reach out to your officials, state and federal, and advocate for more permanent laws that expand telehealth services and reimbursement. Sharing case examples without client identifying information and your passion for the issue could be just the sort of personal advocacy needed. Your voice may persuade elected officials to act quickly and empathetically on behalf of the trans community and everyone else who will benefit from telehealth support. Rural Transgender Report: https://www.lgbtmap.org/file/Rural-Trans-Report-Nov2019.pdf < Previous News Next News >

Emergency Broadband Benefit Resources Center for Connected Health Policy April 2021 FCC recently posted a new consumer FAQ on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which the FCC is still working to make available but hopes to have in place for signup by the end of April 2021. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently posted a new consumer FAQ on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, which the FCC is still working to make available but hopes to have in place for signup by the end of April 2021. The program will help households struggling to pay for internet service during the pandemic. The FAQ provides answers to common consumer questions on benefit eligibility, how the discount will be applied to broadband service costs, and program length. It also includes information on the enhanced Tribal benefit and the connected device benefit. Additional questions can be sent to broadbandbenefit@fcc.gov and webinars, informational materials, and upcoming trainings can be found here: https://www.usac.org/about/emergency-broadband-benefit-program/webinars-and-trainings/ FCC Consumer FAQs: https://www.fcc.gov/consumer-faq-emergency-broadband-benefit < Previous News Next News >

Join Pivotal NM & The Grant Plant for an Overview of FCC's COVID-19 Telehealth Program Application Joohee Rand April 23, 2021 Pivotal NM is hosting an urgent info session this Friday April 23rd, 10am to provide an overview so that more providers will be ready for application from New Mexico. Anchorum St. Vincent has partnered with PIVOTAL NM to provide technical assistance in applying for the FCC’s Covid-19 Telehealth Program in 2021. $250M in total funding is available through this program this year, and FCC just announced that the application will be open from April 29 – May 6th, for just one week. Pivotal NM is hosting an urgent info session this Friday April 23rd, 10am to provide an overview so that more providers will be ready for application from New Mexico. Pivotal New Mexico will be also hosting additional office hours in the following week and can be available for further support in applications. Registration: https://mailchi.mp/pivotalnm.org/join-us-to-learn-about-fccs-telehealth-grant-app?e=95bb6af734 < Previous News Next News >

OCR Clarifies Post-PHE HIPAA Compliance for Audio-Only Telehealth Center for Connected Health Policy June 21, 2022image The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) recently released guidance on the use of remote communication technologies for audio-only telehealth to assist health care providers and health plans, or covered entities, bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules (HIPAA Rules). The goal of the guidance as stated by OCR is to support continued access to audio-only telehealth post-public health emergency (PHE) and make clear that audio-only telehealth is permissible under HIPAA Rules. One of the main federal public health emergency (PHE) flexibilities instituted at the beginning of the pandemic included relaxed enforcement of certain federal privacy laws related to the use of various telehealth technologies (see OCR’s Notification of Enforcement Discretion for Telehealth Remote Communications (Telehealth Notification)). The Telehealth Notification states that OCR will not penalize providers under HIPAA related to their good faith use of audio or video remote communication technologies during the PHE. While it appears likely that the PHE will be further extended one more time until mid-October, this guidance seeks to prepare providers for a return to compliance once the PHE and enforcement relaxations are no longer in effect. HIPAA Allows Audio-Only OCR first and foremost confirms the ability to comply with HIPAA when using remote communications to provide audio-only telehealth services. The guidance states the expectation of privacy of protected health information (PHI) from impermissible uses or disclosures and the importance of providing telehealth services in private settings. If the setting is not fully private, however, it is stressed that other safeguards must be put in place, such as speaking in low voices and not using speakerphone functions. In addition, entities must verify the individual’s identity if they are unknown. While verification can be completed orally or in writing, the HIPAA Rules do not require any specific method of identity verification. The guidance also highlights that this requirement may entail the use of language assistance services with individuals with limited English proficiency. HIPAA Only Applies to Electronic Information via Electronic Media In addressing the need to meet HIPAA Security Rule requirements to use remote communication technologies, OCR clarifies that the Rule only applies to electronic PHI (ePHI) transmitted over electronic media. Therefore, the Rule does not apply to audio-only telehealth services provided over a traditional landline, however it does apply to landlines being replaced with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and other electronic technologies that involve the internet, cellular, and Wi-Fi, as well as smartphone apps and messaging services that electronically store audio messages. These requirements again only apply to covered entities, noting that patients receiving telehealth services via remote technologies are not obligated by HIPAA and therefore covered entities aren’t responsible for the privacy of information once it has been received by the patient’s device. To ensure compliance with the HIPAA Security Rule the guidance states that all potential risks should be identified and addressed as part of risk analysis and risk management processes required under HIPAA, including the risk for interception of information during transmission, the ability for devices to encrypt transmitted information, and other device security and authentication processes. Business Associate Agreements & Payer Rules A business associate agreement (BAA) with a telecommunication service provider (TSP) is not always necessary to utilize audio-only technologies, as long as the TSP is just a conduit for the PHI being transmitted and does not have the ability to access the information being shared. If, however, the provider wants to use an app that does store information, then a BAA is required with the app developer, including apps that may provide translation services. The guidance states that whether or not audio-only services are covered by the patient’s health insurer does not impact a provider’s ability to provide those services in compliance with HIPAA, as payer rules and requirements are separate from HIPAA Rules. While continuation of PHE telehealth flexibilities remains a policy focus in Congress, it is likely that the flexibilities related to privacy enforcement will not be continued post-PHE making the technologies used to provide telehealth services an area of focus for providers looking to continue providing telehealth access moving forward. Continuing use of audio-only telehealth is also an area of policy focus post-PHE, therefore this guidance is very timely. While the guidance is technically specific to just one telehealth modality, it does speak to audio-only through electronic technologies, generally encapsulating other remote communications using electronic means, such as video and store-and-forward telehealth. For more information on OCR’s guidance related to audio-only communications post-PHE, as well as general telehealth guidance, please view the OCR FAQs and other resources listed in their entirety. For more information: https://mailchi.mp/cchpca/ocr-clarifies-post-phe-hipaa-compliance-for-audio-only-telehealth < Previous News Next News >

How Does a Telemedicine Pain Program Work in Rural American with Multi-Vulnerable Patient Populations? Dax Trujillo, MD July 20, 2022 In April 2017 Summit Healthcare started a multi-disciplinary program to treat patients with chronic and acute pain in the White Mountains of Arizona. Our patient service area is HRSA-designated as having a shortage of providers and medically underserved. The area is the size of Rhode Island and includes Native American reservations and other vulnerable populations. Many of our patients live in a high poverty area which makes access to care challenging. In order to provide multi-disciplinary services that include interventional procedures, monitored medication management and cognitive behavior therapy, we needed to create a hybrid program. Our program incorporates in-person, video/audio and telephone visits. By using three different modes of care delivery we were able to reach and follow more patients with better outcomes. Since April 1, 2017 we have had over 900 patients participate in our telemedicine pain program. The visits include virtual appointments for medical management, behavioral therapy, and general wellness checks after an in-person visit; virtual check-ins for procedure or testing follow-ups and eVisits via email communication to answer questions and/or review prescription issues or re-ordering. Due to the rurality of the service area we estimate that patients were saved from having to travel 66,144 miles to a physician’s office. This was a significant relief to patients with limited means to transportation, knowing that their weekly, monthly in-patient visits were reduced to quarterly in-patient visits. Patient satisfaction has been high due to the reduction of travel time and costs. Simultaneously, the patient perceived they were being more closely monitored and their pain issues addressed in a timely manner. Another benefit is that more than one professional can join a telemedicine visit with the patient which allows a more holistic and comprehensive visit for better value based care of the patient. By providing virtual visits as part of the entire treatment program, we have saved thousands of dollars in chronic pain treatment costs. Through evidence-based research we know that patients are achieving better healthcare outcomes in this hybrid program by incorporating telemedicine technology. Our program has had overall success with addressing pain but there are some risks involved that must be addressed within your institution to provide a platform that is HIPPA compliant and protects critical sensitive health information. Providing a secure platform must be a top priority when delivering pain treatment virtually due to the sensitive nature of the disease/treatments with this patient population. While most patients do well with the hybrid program we do have patients for whom it is not appropriate. Due to our location, a subset of patients do not have access to broadband internet service so we cannot perform visits via video or sometimes audio. Other patients have expressed a preference for in-person visits while another group prefers all visits to be virtual. Patients needing neuraxial interventions or surgeries will need to be seen in-person. Each patient has their own unique circumstances so having a hybrid pain treatment program with various care delivery options allows us to reach more patients previously not being treated for their chronic pain issues. In the future we will purchase a remote patient monitoring platform/equipment that can be used with our chronic pain patients to better track their vitals, physical and mental health. This will also allow us to manage medications and behavioral issues related to pain and opioid addiction, both of which are prevalent in our service area. Our hospital system is also developing a hospital at home program which will incorporate the telemedicine pain program for patients with co-morbidities. The future of healthcare access is using hybrid delivery of care systems that include telemedicine, to improve accessibility and outcomes for chronic pain patients. For original article: https://southwesttrc.org/blog/2022/how-does-telemedicine-pain-program-work-rural-american-multi-vulnerable-patient < Previous News Next News >

Grants & Funding The Federal government has numerous funding sources for telehelath support: USDA Community Connect Grants USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants Other Telemedicine Grants FCC Rural Health Care - Healthcare Connect Fund USDA COMMUNITY CONNECT GRANTS This federal program funds broadband deployment into rural communities where it is not yet economically viable for private sector provi ders to deliver service. For more information, please visit USDA Community Connect Grants . USDA DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE GRA NTS Th is federal program helps rural communities use telecommunications' unique connectivity capabilities to overcome effects of remoteness and low population density. Grant funds may be used for a cquisition of eligible capital assets, such as: Technical assistance and instruction for using eligible equipment Inside wiring and similar infrastructu re that further DLT services Acquisition of instructional programming as a capital asset Computer hardware, network components, and software Audio, video, and interactive vid eo equipment Terminal and data terminal equipment For more information , please visit USDA Distance Learning and Telemedicine Grants . OTHER TELEMEDICINE GRANT OPPORTUNITES The Health and Human Services Division for telehealth and broadband related programs posts funding opp ortunities HE RE . HEALTHCARE CONNECT FUND The New Mexico Telehealth Alliance (N MTHA) manages the Southwest Telehealth Access Grid (SWTAG), a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved consortium for funding through the Healthcare Connect Fund (HCF). If you manage one or more healthcare provider sites serving clients in New Mexico, contact NMTHA to discuss joining SWTAG. Advantages to applying to SWTAG via NMTHA include: Lower application and administrative costs. Access to expert funding advice for a mix of rural and urban sites. Professional assistance with proven track record of funding success. Additional information on eligibility and application procedures can be found HERE . Community Connect Distance Learning Other Healthcare Connect

Telehealth now serves unmet needs, says athenahealth Andrea Fox October 04, 2022 Virtual care is playing a more significant role in filling gaps in delivery, having evolved from pandemic-era visit replacement, according to a new study from the cloud IT developer. Increased telehealth utilization points to wider use as a diagnostic and triage tool, particularly among those with chronic conditions. WHY IT MATTERS New research, based on a Dynata survey of 2,000 U.S. adults that was commissioned by athenahealth conducted in June and July of this year, and data on booked and completed appointments through the athenahealth electronic health record suggest telehealth is now integrated across the care continuum. "Our data shows that after the height of the pandemic, many physicians continue to rely on telehealth, as they see the tremendous value it can provide," said Jessica Sweeney-Platt, vice president of research and editorial strategy at athenahealth, in a statement. The use of telehealth is especially evident among those with chronic conditions. While 24% of those surveyed say their health concern didn't warrant an in-person visit, 23% of respondents indicated their telehealth visits were scheduled check-ins related to chronic conditions, and 9% used telehealth as well for ad hoc care for their conditions. The respondents with chronic conditions reported using telehealth in place of as well as between visits to help manage their conditions, suggesting telehealth is serving a previously unmet need for proactive healthcare. Telehealth has also increased the willingness of patients to seek mental healthcare, with 25% of survey respondents indicating they opted for telehealth sessions to address new mental health conditions. Twenty-three percent shared that they were more likely to ask for mental health support because telehealth was available to them. The findings also revealed patterns of use based on gender and race. The EHR data from January 1, 2019, through April 30, 2022, evaluated in the study showed that in 2021, male providers had 24% lower odds of providing a telehealth visit than their female counterparts. Provider gender also affected patient adoption of telehealth. Patients who worked with a single male provider had 60% lower odds of adoption compared to patients with only a female provider. "Additionally, previous research has shown that female clinicians tend to spend more time with patients, which could further explain higher provider adoption of telehealth among females compared to males, with female providers using telehealth as an additional tool for connecting with patients," said Sweeney-Platt. The research also showed Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to use telehealth services, but less likely to do so with one dedicated provider, suggesting improved access to care but not improved continuity of care. THE LARGER TREND A previous study of 40.7 million commercially-insured adults in the United States – a study of a nationally representative population – published earlier this year found that patients with acute clinical conditions who first sought care via telehealth were more likely to follow up at the emergency room or be admitted to the hospital that those who sought care in person. However, when it came to chronic conditions, follow-up was less likely for those with an initial telehealth visit, finding telehealth comparable to in-person care. The researchers from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, along with collaborators from Blue Health Intelligence and the Digital Medicine Society compared telehealth and in-person encounters by looking at factors associated with changing patterns of telehealth use beyond the initial months of the pandemic. ON THE RECORD "Our research brings to light the vital role telehealth can play in patient care. Not only does it increase access to care, but it can drive better patient outcomes when used as an extension of in-person visits to provide continuity of care," said Sweeney-Platt in announcing the findings. "Telehealth is now a core tenet of healthcare delivery in the U.S.," said Greg Carey, director of regulatory and government affairs at athenahealth, according to a prepared statement about telehealth fulfilling its promise on the company's website. Correction: The original version of the article indicated that the Dynata survey was of athenaOne network patients. Andrea Fox is senior editor of Healthcare IT News. Email: afox@himss.org Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication. See original article: https://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/telehealth-now-serves-unmet-needs-says-athenahealth < Previous News Next News >

New Mexico Telehealth Alliance TELEHEALTH RESOURCES | COMMUNITY | PROGRAM SUPPORT Connecting New Mexicans to Better Health. The New Mexico Telehealth Alliance (NMTHA) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation dedicated to promoting telehealth solutions that deliver quality healthcare throughout the State. The NMTHA is a network of members representing a broad spectrum of public and private healthcare organizations. The NMTHA provides program support enabling members to eff ectively share resources. Board members and officers are all volunteers. Vision: Through the efforts of the NMTHA’s work on policy, quality, and equitable access to telehealth services, New Mexicans will be able to get the care they need when they need it. Mission: Advance effective use, equitable access, and sustainable telehealth service delivery in New Mexico. About Innovating Remote Access to Care Bridging Health Equity Gaps / Disparities AI + Digital Innovation Medicare Telehealth HCA/Turquoise Care Vision & Strategies View Presentations Why does New Mexico need a Telehealth Alliance? Click HERE to learn more... Be part of the solution! Join the Ne w Mexico Telehe alth Alliance Telehealth and telemedicine are no longer an innovative approach to healthcare - they are a necessary part of it. More than ever, access to quality healthcare, especially in New Mexico, is fundamental to the well-being of many communities, especially in rural and territorial areas. Supporting the New Mexico Telehealth Alliance through membership helps ensure access to meaningful information and supports the viability of telehealth services in New Mexico. Membership matters! Benefits of Membership Stay Connected! Stay connected with the NMTHA community by signing up to receive updates and notifications on industry trends, the latest telehealth news, events, and more. Thanks for connecting with NMTHA! Submit

Telehealth and Maternal Mental Health Needs Two recent studies show telehealth can help new and expectant mothers. Psychology Today April 30, 2021 Telehealth measures decreased prenatal distress, pregnancy-related anxiety, and postpartum depression. Telemedicine has skyrocketed since the start of the pandemic. According to The New York Times, just short of May 2020, the Johns Hopkins neurology department was seeing 95 percent of patients virtually. The rise in telemedicine to address maternal mental health has also seen unprecedented growth during the pandemic. Meanwhile, Mental Health America states that the mental health needs of Americans have skyrocketed. Anxiety and depression screenings increased nearly four-fold in 2020, from nearly 2,000 screenings per day to roughly 8,000 per day. Women, and in particular pregnant women, are vulnerable to hormonal fluctuations that make them twice as likely to experience depression during their lifetime compared to men. Research in the past year and a half has shown that telehealth can be substantially as effective as in-person care. (Telehealth, more encompassing than telemedicine but inclusive of it, may include only educational components.) With respect to maternal mental health, there are two studies highlighted herein that demonstrate telehealth's promise when it comes to improving maternal mental health in terms of prenatal distress, pregnancy-related anxiety, and the postpartum period. Of note, one of the studies was conducted prior March 11, 2020, or the official start of the pandemic, which makes it non-COVID-19 related. Maternal mental health, or perinatal mental health, is defined by the Maternal Health Task Force as a woman’s mental health during pregnancy and in the postpartum period. The significance of this period is multifold. It includes increased risk of the following: preterm delivery, low birth weight, impaired postnatal infant growth, insecure infant-mother attachments, and suboptimal breastfeeding practices. The first study published in Midwifery in 2021 supports the use of tele-education in improving prenatal distress and pregnancy-related anxiety. Specifically, the Midwifery study showed that “tele-education offered to the pregnant women on pregnancy and birth planning during COVID-19 decreased their prenatal distress and anxiety levels.” What the pregnant women received were phone calls, text messages, and a digital education pdf file, all of which educated women on a variety of topics, including “general methods of protection from coronavirus, coronavirus prevention methods during pregnancy, coronavirus and delivery process, measures to be taken during the coronavirus pandemic and postpartum process, measures to be taken during the coronavirus pandemic and breastfeeding, and how to manage stress, anxiety, and depression in these processes.” The tele-education included a digital pdf file called the “Booklet for Pregnancy and Birth Planning Education during Coronavirus (COVID-19).” All the of the educational content was developed with suggestions from medical and public health experts. A major takeaway from the above Midwifery study is that tele-education is effective in reducing the fears pregnant women have about giving birth as well as about their babies’ health in the context of a pandemic; in summary, prenatal distress and pregnancy-related anxiety were significantly decreased (p-value <0.05). Significantly lower scores on pregnancy-related anxiety questionnaires developed by van den Bergh (1990) and revised by Huizink et al. (2016) demonstrated the effective role played by tele-education. The second study published in Midwifery in 2021 supports the use of telemedicine interventions in treating postpartum depression symptoms. While the study’s timeframe was not during COVID, the results are helpful in understanding the beneficial role telemedicine has played in the past couple of years. Previous research has shown it can be a challenge for postpartum women to seek care for the “baby blues” or depressive symptoms, either of which could be significant. This may be due to perceived stigma, time, financial constraints, transportation, or childcare concerns. In this study, the telemedicine modalities included: telephone support, mobile applications, social media, and websites. This meta-analysis reviewed at least seven randomized controlled trials that largely used cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or psychoeducation to help pregnant women participants. The second Midwifery study concluded that telemedicine interventions “significantly decreased postpartum depression symptoms” and “demonstrated feasibility and acceptability among mothers in the postnatal period.” A major takeaway from the second Midwifery study is that telemedicine appears to be “promising in preventing and improving postpartum depression.” Of note, the study looked at women without a history of mental health conditions. Meanwhile, Hanach et al. highlight the need for larger-scale, future research to figure out the structure, content, and type of providers recommended within future telemedicine interventions. In conclusion, the benefits of telehealth—especially during COVID-19—appear to help women in the prenatal and postpartum phases of pregnancy. While the research is still growing, and quite limited, such positive signs are helpful in understanding the role that technology can play in addressing maternal mental health needs. Future studies that reflect on the benefits of telehealth are vital and will be particularly useful in supporting new and expectant mothers, especially in times of adversity. Source: https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/blog/healthy-mothers-healthy-families-and-healthier-world/202104/telehealth-and-maternal-mental < Previous News Next News >

Telehealth 2.0: How Providence is taking its platform to the next level Laura Dyrda June 13, 2022 Telehealth became the prevailing mode for medical providers to see patients during the early days of the pandemic, and while use has leveled off in many areas, virtual care has become a permanent part of the healthcare ecosystem. Hospitals and health systems across the U.S. are now building telehealth, remote patient monitoring and hospital-at-home programs as part of their growth strategies. Patients also prefer telehealth as a convenient way to see their clinicians when an in-person visit isn't necessary. Most health systems have built a functioning telehealth program, but what opportunities are there to refine these programs for a better patient and clinician experience? Todd Czartoski, MD, chief medical technology officer at Renton, Wash.-based Providence, joined the Becker's "Digital Health + Health IT" podcast to talk about where the health system's virtual care program is headed. Click here to subscribe to the podcast and keep an eye out for Dr. Czartoski's episode. Note: Response below is edited lightly for clarity. Question: Where do you see telehealth becoming a better tool for clinicians and patients? How is virtual care at Providence evolving? Dr. Todd Czartoski: Over the last two years, our organization has done just over 4 million [telehealth] visits. For perspective, in 2019 we did 67,000 visits, and in one year we were doing 70,000 visits a week in April and May of 2020. That was a huge shift. Now, turning the lights on and being able to walk into the room is one thing, moving furniture around and optimizing the flow is another. A lot of our focus in the last couple years has been improving the experience for the provider, clinic staff and for the patient. We have really gotten it down to where the basic technical components of [telehealth] work pretty darn well, and we don't have a lot of issues with the connectivity piece. We've added interpreter services, and we've added in the ability to talk to more than one person at a time so you can have a family member in a different part of the country join the visit. Those types of things have been important add-ons, in addition to waiting room functionalities where you can add a survey or information tailored to the patient while they're waiting to see their provider in the virtual waiting room. Those are the things you're going to see continuing to evolve and emerge as additional capabilities. The support staff for the physician or provider's clinic also see their function and role evolving. If you think about a traditional clinic, a lot of those roles require putting patients in the room, checking their vitals, ordering labs or getting patients a follow-up appointment. Some of these things still exist, and some are going to be automated or done as part of a telehealth visit. That's where some of the opportunities are arising to continue to optimize the experience for the patients, staff and provider. You're going to see big trends overall here. Telehealth as a video visit, as a functionality, is somewhat limited. What we've learned is that whether you're a behavioral health specialist, a primary care provider or a subspecialty surgeon … all of those specialist visits can be done safely and effectively with telehealth. It's opened the door for looking at what else could we do beyond just a face-to-face visit. Specifically, the door has been opened for home monitoring. We have a remote patient monitoring solution that we built for COVID-19 home monitoring specifically, and because of the success of that, we've monitored over 30,000 patients up to two weeks who either confirmed or were under suspicion of having COVID-19. That opens the door for what we could do in terms of other types of home monitoring for COPD, diabetes, hypertension or whatever the case may be. That's a big area for growth and development. Finally, moving services outside the hospital, hospital-at-home, is a big initiative for us. We've been working on it for a long time and we're seeing some success. We're rapidly deploying that across our ecosystem and a lot of other health systems are as well. It really checks a lot of the boxes for patient experience; our patients absolutely love it. It's bending the cost curve, improving access and helping improve capacity so we don't have to build more super expensive towers and hospitals. Some of the outcomes with hospital-at-home have been shown to be better than traditional hospitalization when it comes to delirium, falls, length of stay and complications. People actually heal better on their own in a comfortable home environment. Those are a few examples of areas that we're going to see growth in our ecosystem. See original article: https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/telehealth/telehealth-2-0-how-providence-is-taking-its-platform-to-the-next-level.html?origin=CIOE&utm_source=CIOE&utm_medium=email&utm_content=newsletter&oly_enc_id=1372I2146745E8F < Previous News Next News >

Telemedicine Holds Potential to Help Climate Change Center for Connected Health Policy May 4, 2021 MobiHealth News is shining the light on a much-overlooked benefit of telemedicine: how it can help curb greenhouse gas emissions and thus help in the fight against climate change. MobiHealth News is shining the light on a much-overlooked benefit of telemedicine: how it can help curb greenhouse gas emissions and thus help in the fight against climate change. The recent article highlights that the United States healthcare industry is a big contributor to carbon emissions, and although telemedicine doesn’t solve the problem, its increased use does lead the industry in the right direction. This has been proven in two research studies conducted on this very subject. The first study, published in the journal, PLoS One explores the carbon footprint of telemedicine and found that replacing in-person visits with telemedicine resulted in 40-70 times decrease in carbon emissions. They note in their conclusion that for telemedicine to make a significant difference, a paradigm shift is necessary where telemedicine is regarded as an ordinary part of health care rather than exclusively for those who lack access due to geography. The second study, conducted by the University of California Davis Health System, examined travel-related and environmental savings as a result of use of telemedicine appointments for outpatient specialty consultations at the university. They found that telemedicine consultations resulted in significant savings of total emissions and that their telemedicine program had a positive impact on environmental pollutants. CCHP also previously published a catalogue of environmental impacts studies, which included several international studies looking at this same issue and coming to the same conclusion regarding telemedicine’s positive impact on carbon emissions in the healthcare sector. As telehealth has become more widespread due to the COVID-19 public health emergency its not hard to imagine that telehealth will cement its place as a mainstream tool in healthcare as the authors in the PLoS study suggest. However, policy barriers have historically interrupted the growth of telehealth, and it is yet to be seen whether the end of COVID-19 will bring telehealth’s progress to a halt. In a study published in the journal Nature Climate Change, researchers found that as a whole, the temporary reduction in daily global CO2 emissions during COVID-19 saw a decrease by as much as -26% on average, but note that the impact of 2020 annual emissions depends on government actions and economic incentives post-pandemic, which will shape the path forward for decades. It will be important as entities such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the congressional budget office, state governments and others conduct their analyses on cost estimates for telehealth that they factor in savings to travel costs incurred through the use of telehealth and the implications for the environment. To learn more, see the full mobihealth news article featuring this important issue. Mobile Health News: https://www.mobihealthnews.com/news/telemedicine-came-rescue-during-covid-19-could-it-help-climate-change-too < Previous News Next News >

Member & Sponsor Levels NMTHA offers multiple benefit levels: Membership Pricing structure based on organization size All Member benefits included Sponsorship Available to members and non-members All Sponsor benefits included Does not include member benefits Membership is not required for sponsorship Member benefits NMTHA Member benefits include: Tax-deductible annual dues as donation to 501(c)(3) organization NMTHA Committee membership and leadership opportunities Inform and influence local/state/national telehealth policy Gain industry insight, knowledge, professional development Networking, community forum, special events e-Newsletter, email updates, workshop notifications On-demand webinars, training videos, interviews View job postings, resume builder, skill-building content Members Select the plan that fits your organization type Health Systems, Health Plans $ 1,000 1,000$ Every year Provides access for up to 6 people Select Hospitals, Associations, Group Practices $ 500 500$ Every year Provides access for up to 4 people Select Individuals $ 150 150$ Every year Provides access for up to 1 person Select Students, Equity Members $ 20 20$ Every year Provides access for up to 1 person Select Membership dues renew annually until cancelled. For plans that include multiple users, click HERE to learn how to add users to your membership plan. For login instructions, click HERE . NMTHA Sponsor benefits include: Tax-deductible sponsorship is donation to 501(c)(3) organization Organization featured on NMTHA's dedicated Sponsor webpage Webinar presentation to NMTHA Board of Directors Poster presentation at NMTHA's Annual Town Hall Sponsor benefits Sponsors For Members and Non-Members NMTHA Sponsors (Membership not required) $2,500 $ 2,500 (Member benefits not included. Membership is available separately.) Valid for one year Select