Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Federal Telehealth Flexibilities in Private Health Insurance During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: In Brief
Provides an overview of how private health insurance plans cover telehealth services, as well as federal flexibilities that encouraged private health insurance plans to promote telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summarizes the two main types of laws at the state level addressing telehealth coverage in private health insurance. Outlines considerations for telehealth coverage after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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Provides an overview of how private health insurance plans cover telehealth services, as well as federal flexibilities that encouraged private health insurance plans to promote telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Summarizes the two main types of laws at the state level addressing telehealth coverage in private health insurance. Outlines considerations for telehealth coverage after the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Congressional Research Service
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2023 Rural Advocacy Agenda
Outlines the American Hospital Association's federal policy priorities for rural hospitals in 2023. Offers recommendations in the areas of payment and reimbursement, workforce, telehealth coverage, and the 340B program.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Outlines the American Hospital Association's federal policy priorities for rural hospitals in 2023. Offers recommendations in the areas of payment and reimbursement, workforce, telehealth coverage, and the 340B program.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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The Role of Telehealth in Achieving a High Performing Rural Health System: Priorities in a Post-Pandemic System
Presents a review of the potential for expanded use of telehealth in rural America and the use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Examines the uses of telehealth in a high-performing rural health system. Expands on considerations outlined in the October 2020 publication The Evolving Landscape of National Telehealth Policies during a Public Health Emergency: Responsiveness to Rural Needs.
Author(s): Joel M. James, Keith J. Mueller, Joanne Constantin, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Presents a review of the potential for expanded use of telehealth in rural America and the use of telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Examines the uses of telehealth in a high-performing rural health system. Expands on considerations outlined in the October 2020 publication The Evolving Landscape of National Telehealth Policies during a Public Health Emergency: Responsiveness to Rural Needs.
Author(s): Joel M. James, Keith J. Mueller, Joanne Constantin, et al.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Impact of Tele-Emergency Consultations on Pediatric Interfacility Transfers: A Cluster-Randomized Crossover Trial
Results of a study examining the use of pediatric critical care telemedicine compared with telephone consultations associated with transfer rates of acutely ill children from community and rural emergency departments. Features statistics including baseline characteristics and disposition of patients in the telemedicine and telephone groups.
Author(s): James P. Marcin, Hadley S. Sauers-Ford, Jamie L. Mouzoon, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(2)
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
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Results of a study examining the use of pediatric critical care telemedicine compared with telephone consultations associated with transfer rates of acutely ill children from community and rural emergency departments. Features statistics including baseline characteristics and disposition of patients in the telemedicine and telephone groups.
Author(s): James P. Marcin, Hadley S. Sauers-Ford, Jamie L. Mouzoon, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(2)
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
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Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Transition Roadmap
Summarizes changes to HHS COVID-19 policies as the public health emergency comes to an end on May 11, 2023. Also identifies aspects of vaccination, treatment, and telehealth flexibilities that will not be affected.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Summarizes changes to HHS COVID-19 policies as the public health emergency comes to an end on May 11, 2023. Also identifies aspects of vaccination, treatment, and telehealth flexibilities that will not be affected.
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Evaluation of Post-Discharge Engagement for Emergency Department Patients with Opioid Use History Who Received Telehealth Recovery Coaching Services
Examines successful interventions for patients in emergency departments (EDs) who receive peer recovery coach (PRC) services via telehealth that support patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes 13 EDs in Indiana who implemented telehealth PRC services starting in 2018, including 7 rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes rate of successful follow-ups proceeding PRC services broken down by patient age, sex, race, drug use method, referral types, and metro, small, or rural living location.
Author(s): Dennis P. Watson, Peter Phalen, Spencer Medcalf, Sarah Messmer, Alan McGuire
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,18(9)
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
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Examines successful interventions for patients in emergency departments (EDs) who receive peer recovery coach (PRC) services via telehealth that support patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Analyzes 13 EDs in Indiana who implemented telehealth PRC services starting in 2018, including 7 rural Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs). Includes rate of successful follow-ups proceeding PRC services broken down by patient age, sex, race, drug use method, referral types, and metro, small, or rural living location.
Author(s): Dennis P. Watson, Peter Phalen, Spencer Medcalf, Sarah Messmer, Alan McGuire
Citation: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention,18(9)
Date: 02/2023
Type: Document
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Critical Access Hospital Telehealth Guide
Provides practical guidance on implementing and sustaining telehealth in Critical Access Hospitals, to optimize healthcare delivery, expand access, enhance care coordination, and address health inequity. Focuses on Medicare outpatient telehealth services, but also includes information on Medicaid coverage and remote services that may not strictly be considered telehealth.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
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Provides practical guidance on implementing and sustaining telehealth in Critical Access Hospitals, to optimize healthcare delivery, expand access, enhance care coordination, and address health inequity. Focuses on Medicare outpatient telehealth services, but also includes information on Medicaid coverage and remote services that may not strictly be considered telehealth.
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: National Rural Health Resource Center, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center
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Pre-Pandemic Geographic Access to Hospital-Based Telehealth for Cancer Care in the United States
Explores the availability of telehealth and oncology services across geographic and sociodemographic domains before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2019 and 2020 data sources to examine hospital characteristics by telehealth and oncology services, with information on hospital ownership, number of hospital beds, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) status, presence of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) co-located at hospital, and more. Includes availability of telehealth, oncology, and hospital services broken down by county; HPSA status; income, average age, and race/ethnicity of residents; ratio of population to primary care physicians; rural noncore, rural micropolitan, or urban status; and more.
Author(s): David I. Shalowitz, Peiyin Hung, Whitney E. Zahnd, Jan Eberth
Citation: PLoS One, 18(1)
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Explores the availability of telehealth and oncology services across geographic and sociodemographic domains before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2019 and 2020 data sources to examine hospital characteristics by telehealth and oncology services, with information on hospital ownership, number of hospital beds, Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) status, presence of Rural Health Clinic (RHC) co-located at hospital, and more. Includes availability of telehealth, oncology, and hospital services broken down by county; HPSA status; income, average age, and race/ethnicity of residents; ratio of population to primary care physicians; rural noncore, rural micropolitan, or urban status; and more.
Author(s): David I. Shalowitz, Peiyin Hung, Whitney E. Zahnd, Jan Eberth
Citation: PLoS One, 18(1)
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Telemedicine Use and Quality of Opioid Use Disorder Treatment in the US During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Results of a study of 1,768 clinicians treating 11,801 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), to examine the association between telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicators of OUD treatment quality. Explores medications for OUD (MOUD) prescribing and OUD-related clinical events, including drug overdose, inpatient detoxification, and rehabilitation center stay. Features statistics including patient and clinician characteristics, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural location.
Author(s): Ruth Hailu, Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alisa B. Busch, Michael L. Barnett
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1)
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Results of a study of 1,768 clinicians treating 11,801 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), to examine the association between telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic and indicators of OUD treatment quality. Explores medications for OUD (MOUD) prescribing and OUD-related clinical events, including drug overdose, inpatient detoxification, and rehabilitation center stay. Features statistics including patient and clinician characteristics, with breakdowns by metropolitan, micropolitan, small town, and rural location.
Author(s): Ruth Hailu, Ateev Mehrotra, Haiden A. Huskamp, Alisa B. Busch, Michael L. Barnett
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 6(1)
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
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Telehealth and Licensure Policies Improving Healthcare Access for Rural Communities
Discusses expanding licensure across state lines so providers can provide telehealth services to a wider service area. Includes information on Medicaid and Medicare telehealth policies as well as state-level legislation focused on cross-state licensing.
Author(s): Ashley Cram
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Discusses expanding licensure across state lines so providers can provide telehealth services to a wider service area. Includes information on Medicaid and Medicare telehealth policies as well as state-level legislation focused on cross-state licensing.
Author(s): Ashley Cram
Date: 01/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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