Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – News
News stories from the past 60 days.
Mar 26, 2024 - Describes virtual occupational therapy services offered by 2 Veterans Affairs facilities to reach rural veterans. Notes that the program is able to address social determinants of health issues such as home safety evaluations and fall risk assessments. Discusses how the program integrates with other virtual VA services.
Source: VA News
Mar 18, 2024 - Highlights a proposed project to put telehealth centers in rural Washington fire stations. Discusses the impact this would have on healthcare access for remote communities.
Source: WSU Insider
Mar 14, 2024 - Summarizes a recent study investigating the impact of billing models for telehealth for palliative care on rural caregivers, healthcare teams, and patients. Discusses finding strategies for healthcare workers that engage with family caregivers in ways that are reimbursable.
Source: Mayo Clinic News Network
Mar 13, 2024 - Highlights the history of telehealth use by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Describes how access to specialists, behavioral healthcare, and prescription medication in particular has been improved by telehealth. Discusses how rural healthcare access is managed for veterans without reliable internet access.
Source: Cronkite News
Mar 12, 2024 - Highlights a telehealth cart being used in a rural Nebraska hospital to offer behavioral health services. The service began when the emergency room saw an increase in mental health crises. The cart is also used for virtual substance abuse counseling.
Source: KTIV
Mar 7, 2024 - The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services statement that they are coordinating efforts in response to the recent Change Healthcare cyberattack. Notes they are aware of the disparate impact on small practices and community-based providers and considering their needs in the response.
Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Mar 7, 2024 - Notice from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) making technical and typographical corrections to the January 9, 2024, final rule. The corrections in this notice are effective March 11, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Mar 7, 2024 - Highlights the use of telemedicine in ambulances in an effort to improve health outcomes for patients being transported long distances to receive emergency care. Discusses loss of ambulance and hospital services in addition to limited specialty care in rural communities. Describes implementation in South Dakota and Minnesota.
Source: MPR News
Mar 6, 2024 - A rural Colorado library system has added telehealth kits to its collection. The kits include a laptop, pulse oximeter, thermometer, webcam, and internet hotspot.
Source: KXRM Colorado Springs
Mar 5, 2024 - Announces steps being taken by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services related to the cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group. Notes flexibilities in place for claims processing, prior authorization, and electronic billing.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Last Updated: 3/27/2024