Rural Health
News by Topic: Telehealth
Jul 1, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Wireline Competition Bureau approved an additional 70 funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Over $31 million will help to provide telehealth services in both rural and urban areas of the country during the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
Jun 30, 2020 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the calendar year (CY) 2021 payment rates and wage index for the home health prospective payment system and proposing permanent changes to the home health regulations regarding the use of technology that were adopted because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Also discusses policies finalized in the CY 2020 final rule with comment period related to home infusion therapy services, among other things. Comments on this proposed rule are due by August 31, 2020.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 25, 2020 - Public Notice from the Wireline Competition Bureau announced it will no longer accept new applications for funding from the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Applications received to date and the demand for funding exceeds available program funds from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
Jun 24, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Wireline Competition Bureau approved an additional 77 funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. $29.41 million in funding will help urban and rural healthcare providers provide telehealth services during the coronavirus pandemic.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
FCC: Promoting Telehealth in Rural America
Federal Register
Jun 19, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has received approval for 3 years for an information collection associated with the rules for the Telecommunications Program and the Healthcare Connect Fund Program contained in the FCC's Promoting Telehealth in Rural America Report and Order, FCC 19-78.
Source: Federal Register
Jun 19, 2020 - The State Director of USDA Rural Development in Maine discusses how the agency utilized telecommunications to provide education and healthcare services to remote island residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes how USDA's Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program helped make this type of connectivity possible.
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture
Jun 19, 2020 - Highlights two studies presented at a recent American Diabetes Association virtual meeting, both of which used telehealth to lower blood sugar for rural patients. One study focused on rural veteran populations and the other on patients in rural parts of Nebraska with limited access to an endocrinologist.
Source: Medical Xpress
Jun 17, 2020 - Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander recommended the federal government permanently extend policy changes that allow physicians to be reimbursed for a telehealth appointment wherever the patient is located as well as policy changes that doubled the number of telehealth services that could be reimbursed by Medicare. Explains that 29 other temporary federal policy changes should also be considered for being made permanent.
Source: U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Jun 17, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) Wireline Competition Bureau approved an additional 62 funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Rural and urban healthcare providers will utilize the $23.25 million of funding to provide telehealth services during the pandemic.
Source: Federal Communications Commission
FCC: Information Collection Being Reviewed by the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Register
Jun 16, 2020 - The Federal Communications Commission is seeking comment on an information collection for the Promoting Telehealth for Low-Income Consumers, COVID-19 Telehealth Program. This report and order established the COVID-19 Telehealth Program and the Connected Care Pilot Program to help healthcare professionals provide connected care services to their patients. Comments are due by August 17, 2020.
Source: Federal Register