Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Implementation of an Intensive Telehealth Intervention for Rural Patients with Clinic-Refractory Diabetes
Analyzes the implementation of Advanced Comprehensive Diabetes Care (ACDC) to address type 2 diabetes (T2D) in rural patients. Examines 230 patients receiving ACDC through Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Home Telehealth (HT) infrastructure. Discusses the potential of telehealth to deliver specialty care to hard-to-reach populations.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Kobe, Allison A. Lewinski, Amy S. Jeffreys, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3080-3088
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Analyzes the implementation of Advanced Comprehensive Diabetes Care (ACDC) to address type 2 diabetes (T2D) in rural patients. Examines 230 patients receiving ACDC through Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Home Telehealth (HT) infrastructure. Discusses the potential of telehealth to deliver specialty care to hard-to-reach populations.
Author(s): Elizabeth A. Kobe, Allison A. Lewinski, Amy S. Jeffreys, et al.
Citation: Journal of General Internal Medicine, 37(12), 3080-3088
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Improving Rural Maternal Health Care through Network Models: Summary of the RMOMS Program 2021 Cohort
Describes the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program supporting increased access to maternal healthcare in rural communities and improvement in maternal and neonatal outcomes. Summarizes three RMOMS programs from the 2021 Cohort - Families First: Rural Maternity Health Collaborative (Minnesota), RMOM-Southeast Missouri Partnership, and West Virginia RMOMS Collaborative. Identifies their maternal health service area, network partners, and goals and strategies for improving healthcare access and outcomes.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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Describes the Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program supporting increased access to maternal healthcare in rural communities and improvement in maternal and neonatal outcomes. Summarizes three RMOMS programs from the 2021 Cohort - Families First: Rural Maternity Health Collaborative (Minnesota), RMOM-Southeast Missouri Partnership, and West Virginia RMOMS Collaborative. Identifies their maternal health service area, network partners, and goals and strategies for improving healthcare access and outcomes.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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September 2022 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2022 meeting. Covers Medicare payments to safety-net clinicians, the development of a prototype post-acute care prospective payment system, nursing facility staffing requirements and data, the expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and payment for telehealth services after the PHE, inpatient psychiatric facility care, and Part D data on drug rebates and discounts. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2022 meeting. Covers Medicare payments to safety-net clinicians, the development of a prototype post-acute care prospective payment system, nursing facility staffing requirements and data, the expansion of telehealth during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) and payment for telehealth services after the PHE, inpatient psychiatric facility care, and Part D data on drug rebates and discounts. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Medicare Telehealth: Actions Needed to Strengthen Oversight and Help Providers Educate Patients on Privacy and Security Risks
Analyzes 2019 and 2020 Medicare claims data to explore the utilization of telehealth services before and after the implementation of regulatory flexibilities and waivers in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes efforts taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify and monitor risks posed by Medicare telehealth waivers, as well as a change made to the enforcement of regulations governing patients' protected health information during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Offers three recommendations to CMS to strengthen oversight and assess the quality of telehealth services and one recommendation regarding assistance to providers to explain the privacy and security risks of telehealth to patients.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Analyzes 2019 and 2020 Medicare claims data to explore the utilization of telehealth services before and after the implementation of regulatory flexibilities and waivers in March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes efforts taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify and monitor risks posed by Medicare telehealth waivers, as well as a change made to the enforcement of regulations governing patients' protected health information during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Offers three recommendations to CMS to strengthen oversight and assess the quality of telehealth services and one recommendation regarding assistance to providers to explain the privacy and security risks of telehealth to patients.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Receipt of Out-of-State Telemedicine Visits Among Medicare Beneficiaries During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Study examining out-of-state telemedicine utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic by Medicare beneficiaries from January to June 2021 based on Medicare fee-for-service claims. Presents patient characteristics, variation in out-of-state telemedicine by geography, and benefits of out-of-state telemedicine access for rural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alok Nimgaonkar, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(9), e223013
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Study examining out-of-state telemedicine utilization during the COVID-19 pandemic by Medicare beneficiaries from January to June 2021 based on Medicare fee-for-service claims. Presents patient characteristics, variation in out-of-state telemedicine by geography, and benefits of out-of-state telemedicine access for rural beneficiaries.
Author(s): Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alok Nimgaonkar, et al.
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 3(9), e223013
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Health Panel Comment Letter – Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Rural Emergency Hospitals
Comments offered in response to a July 26, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023 and establishing Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment policy, quality measures, and enrollment policy. Discusses telehealth services for mental healthcare; REH quality measures, telehealth, and Conditions of Participation; and the use of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on hospital and skilled nursing facilities changes in ownership.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Comments offered in response to a July 26, 2022, Federal Register proposed rule revising the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) and Medicare Ambulatory Surgical Center (ACS) payment system for calendar year 2023 and establishing Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) payment policy, quality measures, and enrollment policy. Discusses telehealth services for mental healthcare; REH quality measures, telehealth, and Conditions of Participation; and the use of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) data on hospital and skilled nursing facilities changes in ownership.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Review of Rural U.S. Economic and Health Care Trends
Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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Reviews recent literature and publicly available data to explore important issues at the nexus of healthcare and local economic vibrancy, and explores the economic implications associated with COVID-19. Includes sections on rural hospitals, the rural healthcare workforce, emergency medical services, insurance, and telehealth. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and county-level maps showing Health Professional Shortage Areas and rural counties without obstetrical services.
Author(s): Alison Davis
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Economic Analysis of Rural Health
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Impact of Project ECHO on Patient and Community Health Outcomes: A Scoping Review
Explores the impact of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) on improving patient care in rural and underserved areas through a literature review of ECHO-related research articles. Examines 15 studies to see ECHO impacts on the health outcomes at the individual patient level, clinical practice level, and community level.
Author(s): Jo-Ann Osei-Twum, Brittany Wiles, Tieghan Killackey, et al.
Citation: Academic Medicine, 97(9), 1393-1402
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Explores the impact of Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) on improving patient care in rural and underserved areas through a literature review of ECHO-related research articles. Examines 15 studies to see ECHO impacts on the health outcomes at the individual patient level, clinical practice level, and community level.
Author(s): Jo-Ann Osei-Twum, Brittany Wiles, Tieghan Killackey, et al.
Citation: Academic Medicine, 97(9), 1393-1402
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
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Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Licensure & Telehealth
Video addressing frequently asked questions about telehealth licensure, including cross-state issues, COVID-19 licensure waivers, and more. Answers to questions reflect policy as of September 2022.
Additional links: Slide deck
Date: 09/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Video addressing frequently asked questions about telehealth licensure, including cross-state issues, COVID-19 licensure waivers, and more. Answers to questions reflect policy as of September 2022.
Additional links: Slide deck
Date: 09/2022
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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The IHS Telehealth System Was Deployed Without Some Required Cybersecurity Controls
Presents findings of an audit to determine whether the Indian Health Service (IHS) implemented select cybersecurity system controls prior to deploying its telehealth system nationally. Offers policy recommendations to the IHS for improving the implementation of cybersecurity controls for new information systems and remediating known vulnerabilities that may impact telehealth technologies.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Presents findings of an audit to determine whether the Indian Health Service (IHS) implemented select cybersecurity system controls prior to deploying its telehealth system nationally. Offers policy recommendations to the IHS for improving the implementation of cybersecurity controls for new information systems and remediating known vulnerabilities that may impact telehealth technologies.
Date: 09/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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