Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Broadband in Rural America: Faster Speeds for Home and Healthcare
Highlights the importance of rural broadband infrastructure for access to telehealth, patient portals, and other services. Features a Colorado countywide broadband program, Alabama telehealth services provided via county health departments, and a program providing healthcare access to rural veterans in Kentucky.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Highlights the importance of rural broadband infrastructure for access to telehealth, patient portals, and other services. Features a Colorado countywide broadband program, Alabama telehealth services provided via county health departments, and a program providing healthcare access to rural veterans in Kentucky.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Coronavirus Aid, Recovery, and Economic Security (CARES) Act & Related Legislation and Administrative Action Impacting Rural Health
Provides an overview of legislation passed by Congress regarding COVID-19. Identifies provisions relevant to rural healthcare providers, including the Paycheck Protection Program, funding for public health and rural workforce programs, telehealth flexibilities, and more.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Provides an overview of legislation passed by Congress regarding COVID-19. Identifies provisions relevant to rural healthcare providers, including the Paycheck Protection Program, funding for public health and rural workforce programs, telehealth flexibilities, and more.
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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States Work to Support Rural Hospitals Despite Pandemic Challenges
Blog post highlighting state-level policies to address and prevent rural hospital closures. Discusses proposals in state legislatures regarding alternative payment methodologies and funding, service delivery models, and the recruitment and retention of a rural healthcare workforce.
Author(s): Beth Giambrone
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Blog post highlighting state-level policies to address and prevent rural hospital closures. Discusses proposals in state legislatures regarding alternative payment methodologies and funding, service delivery models, and the recruitment and retention of a rural healthcare workforce.
Author(s): Beth Giambrone
Date: 04/2021
Sponsoring organization: Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
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Virtual Care Expansion in the Veterans Health Administration during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Clinical Services and Patient Characteristics Associated with Utilization
Presents results of a study of virtual care use in the Veterans Health Administration during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports statistics for previous and current virtual care use, method of care delivery, and type of care. Compares demographic groups, including urban, rural, and highly rural veterans, and identifies factors associated with virtual care use.
Author(s): Jacqueline M Ferguson, Josephine Jacobs, Maria Yefimova, et al
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(3), 453-462
Date: 03/2021
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Presents results of a study of virtual care use in the Veterans Health Administration during the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reports statistics for previous and current virtual care use, method of care delivery, and type of care. Compares demographic groups, including urban, rural, and highly rural veterans, and identifies factors associated with virtual care use.
Author(s): Jacqueline M Ferguson, Josephine Jacobs, Maria Yefimova, et al
Citation: Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, 28(3), 453-462
Date: 03/2021
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Tackling America's Mental Health and Addiction Crisis Through Primary Care Integration
Explores how primary and behavioral healthcare integration can overcome the unmet needs for mental health and substance use services. Discusses barriers to integrated care delivery. Offers policy recommendations to improve the integration of primary and behavioral healthcare services through enhanced payments, training, and technical assistance, and improving access to behavioral health providers for consultation and referral.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Explores how primary and behavioral healthcare integration can overcome the unmet needs for mental health and substance use services. Discusses barriers to integrated care delivery. Offers policy recommendations to improve the integration of primary and behavioral healthcare services through enhanced payments, training, and technical assistance, and improving access to behavioral health providers for consultation and referral.
Additional links: Infographic
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Telehealth & Medicaid: A Policy Webinar Series
Summarizes a series of webinars on Medicaid telehealth policy changes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered include telehealth policy developments related to the public health emergency (PHE), Medicaid program engagement and education of healthcare providers, patient education and engagement to increase telehealth access, and discussions of the future of telehealth policy. Offers specific examples from state-level Medicaid programs, with charts and data on telehealth utilization and outcomes.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Summarizes a series of webinars on Medicaid telehealth policy changes during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Topics covered include telehealth policy developments related to the public health emergency (PHE), Medicaid program engagement and education of healthcare providers, patient education and engagement to increase telehealth access, and discussions of the future of telehealth policy. Offers specific examples from state-level Medicaid programs, with charts and data on telehealth utilization and outcomes.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Telehealth Policy and Regulatory Considerations During a Pandemic
Toolkit examining policies related to telehealth regarding coverage and payment, licensing, patient privacy and security, remote prescribing, and others, noting temporary changes due to COVID-19. Offers policy recommendations and highlights other important policy areas for healthcare providers to be aware of.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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Toolkit examining policies related to telehealth regarding coverage and payment, licensing, patient privacy and security, remote prescribing, and others, noting temporary changes due to COVID-19. Offers policy recommendations and highlights other important policy areas for healthcare providers to be aware of.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center
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An Examination of Telehealth Policy Impacts on Initial Rural Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Patterns During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
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Explores changes in the patterns of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in western North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines the impact of telehealth policy changes during the pandemic on the patient population seen for MOUD, access to MOUD services for rural patients, overall MOUD clinic volume, and changes to the provision of MOUD.
Author(s): Phillip M. Hughes, Genevieve Verrastro, Carriedelle Wilson Fusco, Courtenay Gilmore Wilson, Bayla Ostrach
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(3), 467-472
Date: 03/2021
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MedPAC Report to the Congress: Medicare Payment Policy, 2021
Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Annual review of Medicare payment policies, with recommendations to Congress. Includes discussion on Medicare payment policies directly affecting rural providers and beneficiaries. Addresses payment adequacy for healthcare facilities and services, improving Medicare payment for post-acute care, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Part D, and the impact of healthcare provider consolidation. Contains information on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on Medicare beneficiary healthcare access, mortality, and service use. Presents an option for Medicare's coverage of telehealth beyond the public health emergency.
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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2021 RHC Billing and Coding Update
Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a March 9, 2021, webinar providing an overview of coding and billing changes relevant to Rural Health Clinics (RHCs). Discusses guidelines for reporting COVID-19 immunizations and monoclonal antibody infusions, telehealth coding and billing during the COVID-19 public health emergency, ICD-10-CM diagnosis coding for COVID-19, and RHC lab billing and COVID test reporting. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: AMA Code & Guideline Changes, COVID Vaccine Log, Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 03/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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