Finalized CY 2019 Physician Fee Schedule
Fact sheet describing calendar year 2019 changes to Medicare's telehealth reimbursement policy as a part of the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) final rule, a new interpretation of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements for reimbursement of remote communication technology as distinct from telehealth, and new services eligible for reimbursement. Includes a section on changes specific to Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers.
Date: 11/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Activation and Utilization of an Electronic Health Record Patient Portal at an Academic Medical Center: Impact of Patient Demographics and Geographic Location
Analyzes the rates of patient portal activation and usage associated with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics by patients in rural and urban areas of the state. Identifies population groups with the lowest activation rates, and discusses possible barriers to accessing patient portals.
Author(s): Sarah E. R. Oest, Maia Hightower, Matthew D. Krasowski
Citation: Academic Pathology, 5
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
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The Forces of Change in America’s Local Public Health System, 2018
Analyzes survey responses from local health departments (LHDs) to determine budget and job losses LHDs encountered, how LHDs are responding to opioid use and abuse, population health activities, influenza preparedness and response, LHDs interoperability of health information systems, and environmental health activities. Includes data and statistics for rural and small LHDs serving populations of less than 50,000 people.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of County and City Health Officials
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Broadband Loan and Grant Programs in the USDA’s Rural Utilities Service
Discusses disparities in rural broadband access and Rural Utilities Service (RUS) programs intended to address this issue. Addresses criticisms of RUS broadband programs and related legislation, including the amount of Rural Development Telecom Awards for each state. Highlights the benefits of broadband access, such as rural economic development and telemedicine.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Developing Telemental Health Partnerships Between State Medical Schools and Federally Qualified Health Centers: Navigating the Regulatory Landscape and Policy Recommendations
Recommendations for overcoming barriers to promoting telemental health services partnerships between medical schools and health centers. Discusses rural-urban disparities in provision of mental health services, credentialing, remote electronic health records access, insurance issues, and billing.
Author(s): John C. Fortney, Richard C. Veith, Amy M. Bauer, et al.
Citation: The Journal of Rural Health
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
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Map to Prosperity
Discusses the potential of broadband's affects on the rural economy, especially for farming operations and small businesses. Describes broadband access in rural areas. Includes rural versus urban comparisons for rural broadband access and funding and technical assistance programs to increase broadband adoption.
Author(s): Johnathan Hladik
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Rural Affairs
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Broadband: Opportunities and Challenges in Rural America
Presents a U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing on broadband access in rural communities. Features testimony from representatives of Mescalero Apache Telecom, Golden West Telecommunications, Cheyenne River Sioux Telephone Authority, and U.S. Cellular Corp.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
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Oversight Hearing on "GAO Reports Relating to Broadband Internet Availability on Tribal Lands"
Presents a U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs oversight hearing on broadband access on tribal lands. Discusses the U.S.Government Accountability Office (GAO) report: Broadband Internet: FCC's Data Overstate Access on Tribal Lands. Features testimony from representatives from the GAO, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Tribal Telecommunications Association, and AMERIND Risk.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
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Broadband Internet Access and the Digital Divide: Federal Assistance Programs
Describes broadband Internet access issues in rural and underserved areas and federal assistance programs in place to help address these issues. Includes information on support specific to rural healthcare.
Date: 10/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Tribal Broadband: Few Partnerships Exist and the Rural Utilities Service Needs to Identify and Address Any Funding Barriers Tribes Face
Examines tribal broadband access, federal funding to tribal entities for improving broadband access, and barriers to obtaining such federal funding. Identifies tribal partnership agreements that have increased broadband access and discusses the outcomes. Addresses challenges specific to rural areas and the healthcare benefits of broadband access.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2018
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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