Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Final CY 2022 Physician Fee Schedule
Fact sheet addressing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services policies for Medicare beginning on January 1, 2022. Includes sections on telehealth services, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, audio-only services, communications technology based services, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, and additional policies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Fact sheet addressing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services policies for Medicare beginning on January 1, 2022. Includes sections on telehealth services, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, audio-only services, communications technology based services, Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics, and additional policies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Improving Access to Care in Underserved Rural Communities: Eighteenth Annual Report to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Congress
Offers policy and program development recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Congress regarding primary care training and education. Recommendations aim to advance health equity through enhanced support of primary care workforce training to address health barriers in rural and other underserved communities. Covers longitudinal clinical training in rural primary care, integrating oral and behavioral health in primary care, enhancing telehealth capacity, and supporting interprofessional team-based education and practice in maternal-infant care.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
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Offers policy and program development recommendations to the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Congress regarding primary care training and education. Recommendations aim to advance health equity through enhanced support of primary care workforce training to address health barriers in rural and other underserved communities. Covers longitudinal clinical training in rural primary care, integrating oral and behavioral health in primary care, enhancing telehealth capacity, and supporting interprofessional team-based education and practice in maternal-infant care.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Advisory Committee on Training in Primary Care Medicine and Dentistry
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Assessment of State and Federal Health Policies for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond
Examines state-level policy data from government and nonprofit agencies related to treatment access and treatment retention for patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes policy changes affecting telehealth coverage, delivery, and payment; issues of licensing and security; and the initiation and dispensing of treatment medications.
Author(s): Seema Chosky Pessar, Anne Boustead, Yimin Ge, Rosanna Smart, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(11), e213833
Date: 11/2021
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Examines state-level policy data from government and nonprofit agencies related to treatment access and treatment retention for patients with Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Describes policy changes affecting telehealth coverage, delivery, and payment; issues of licensing and security; and the initiation and dispensing of treatment medications.
Author(s): Seema Chosky Pessar, Anne Boustead, Yimin Ge, Rosanna Smart, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(11), e213833
Date: 11/2021
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Enhancing Cancer Care of Rural Dwellers Through Telehealth and Engagement (ENCORE): A Protocol to Evaluate Effectiveness of a Multi-Level Telehealth-Based Intervention to Improve Rural Cancer Care Delivery
Describes a proposed study of telehealth-based cancer interventions at both the provider and patient levels in order to identify barriers and facilitators for the intervention. Outlines the study's protocols, methods, and contributions to technology-enabled and team-based delivery models to support cancer care for rural and underserved communities.
Author(s): Tuya Pal, Pamela C. Hull, Tatsuki Koyama, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 21, 1262
Date: 11/2021
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Describes a proposed study of telehealth-based cancer interventions at both the provider and patient levels in order to identify barriers and facilitators for the intervention. Outlines the study's protocols, methods, and contributions to technology-enabled and team-based delivery models to support cancer care for rural and underserved communities.
Author(s): Tuya Pal, Pamela C. Hull, Tatsuki Koyama, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 21, 1262
Date: 11/2021
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Using CPT Charges as an Economic Proxy for Telehealth and Non-telehealth Emergency Department Utilization
Explores the characteristics of a dataset comprising rural hospitals' reported Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and associated charges for a sample of telehealth and non-telehealth emergency department (ED) visits. Features statistics including number of ED cases and controls selected by diagnosis, and demographics on select ED samples with breakdowns by 4 CPT codes.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Knute D. Carter, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Explores the characteristics of a dataset comprising rural hospitals' reported Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes and associated charges for a sample of telehealth and non-telehealth emergency department (ED) visits. Features statistics including number of ED cases and controls selected by diagnosis, and demographics on select ED samples with breakdowns by 4 CPT codes.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Knute D. Carter, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Remote Care & Telehealth Research Center
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Improving Methadone Access for Rural Communities in the USA: Lessons Learned from Covid-19 Adaptations and International Models of Care
Explores the effect of changes to methadone treatment protocols for opioid use disorder in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on access to treatment in rural areas. Discusses telehealth, dispensing schedules, and distribution models before and during the pandemic.
Author(s): Jamey J. Lister, Holly H. Lister
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(4)
Date: 11/2021
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Explores the effect of changes to methadone treatment protocols for opioid use disorder in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on access to treatment in rural areas. Discusses telehealth, dispensing schedules, and distribution models before and during the pandemic.
Author(s): Jamey J. Lister, Holly H. Lister
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 21(4)
Date: 11/2021
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MACPAC Response to Senate Finance Committee Request for Information on Behavioral Health
Summarizes the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) ongoing analysis of behavioral health in Medicaid and CHIP and offers policy recommendations. Discusses the behavioral health workforce; behavioral healthcare service delivery and access; mental health parity; telehealth; and improving access for children and youth. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Summarizes the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission's (MACPAC) ongoing analysis of behavioral health in Medicaid and CHIP and offers policy recommendations. Discusses the behavioral health workforce; behavioral healthcare service delivery and access; mental health parity; telehealth; and improving access for children and youth. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
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Supporting Telehealth and Technology-Assisted Services for People Who Use Drugs: A Resource Guide
Offers policy, training, and planning resources for substance use disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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Offers policy, training, and planning resources for substance use disorder treatment providers, harm reduction organizations, and others looking to implement telehealth and technology-assisted services to improve the health and wellness of people who use drugs. Discusses participant barriers to accessing technology, including rural-specific challenges, and describes rural initiatives among other case studies.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: National Council for Mental Wellbeing
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FQHC and RHC Best Practices for Telehealth in Response to COVID-19
Offers best practices for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for telehealth expansion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing from 131 expert interviews from facilities in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Highlights key points related to continuing telehealth use, training and instruction, and technology investments.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Offers best practices for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) for telehealth expansion in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, drawing from 131 expert interviews from facilities in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Highlights key points related to continuing telehealth use, training and instruction, and technology investments.
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: California Telehealth Resource Center
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Critical Access Hospitals' Initial Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Use of Federal Funding and Regulatory Flexibilities
Explores how Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) used federal relief funding and regulatory waivers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through August 2020. Summarizes results of a survey of CAH executives in eight states. Discusses the sources of federal funding CAHs received and the types of regulatory waivers and flexibilities these CAHs used.
Author(s): Ira Moscovice, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Nathan Bean, Keelia Silvis
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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Explores how Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) used federal relief funding and regulatory waivers to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic through August 2020. Summarizes results of a survey of CAH executives in eight states. Discusses the sources of federal funding CAHs received and the types of regulatory waivers and flexibilities these CAHs used.
Author(s): Ira Moscovice, Madeleine Pick, Megan Lahr, Nathan Bean, Keelia Silvis
Date: 11/2021
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
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