Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare.
Proposed CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule: Fact Sheet
Fact sheet covering proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2025 as outlined in the calendar year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Covers proposals related to audio-only telehealth; eligible services that can be delivered by telehealth; frequency limitations for inpatient visits, nursing facilities, and critical care consults; direct supervision through the use of live video; payment to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs); opioid treatment programs; and more.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Fact sheet covering proposed Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2025 as outlined in the calendar year (CY) 2025 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. Covers proposals related to audio-only telehealth; eligible services that can be delivered by telehealth; frequency limitations for inpatient visits, nursing facilities, and critical care consults; direct supervision through the use of live video; payment to Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs); opioid treatment programs; and more.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Positioning Telehealth Policy to Ensure High-Quality, Cost-Effective Care
Presents policy recommendations and suggestions to guide policymakers when considering the future of telehealth. Analyzes peer-reviewed research; government reports; and findings from interviews with payers, providers, provider associations, federal agencies, consumer advocates, technology leaders, policy experts, and other stakeholders. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Author(s): Maya Sandalow, Julia Harris, Mikayla Curtis, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations and suggestions to guide policymakers when considering the future of telehealth. Analyzes peer-reviewed research; government reports; and findings from interviews with payers, providers, provider associations, federal agencies, consumer advocates, technology leaders, policy experts, and other stakeholders. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Author(s): Maya Sandalow, Julia Harris, Mikayla Curtis, Marilyn Werber Serafini
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Calendar Year (CY) 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; advanced primary care management services; behavioral health services; opioid treatment programs; dental and oral health services; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Conditions for Coverage, care coordination services, telecommunication services, payment for vaccine costs, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; and more.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; advanced primary care management services; behavioral health services; opioid treatment programs; dental and oral health services; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Conditions for Coverage, care coordination services, telecommunication services, payment for vaccine costs, intensive outpatient program (IOP) services; and more.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Telehealth Trends and Hypertension Management Among Rural and Medicaid Patients After COVID-19
This study examines trends in primary care utilization and hypertension management among adults who visited Dartmouth Health System in 2017-2018 and 2022. Compares changes in synchronous and asynchronous primary care utilization and effective control of elevated blood pressure by rurality and Medicaid enrollment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic through 2022.
Author(s): Matthew Mackwood, Oleksandra Pashchenko, Christopher Leggett, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 30(6), e1677-e1688
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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This study examines trends in primary care utilization and hypertension management among adults who visited Dartmouth Health System in 2017-2018 and 2022. Compares changes in synchronous and asynchronous primary care utilization and effective control of elevated blood pressure by rurality and Medicaid enrollment before and during the COVID-19 pandemic through 2022.
Author(s): Matthew Mackwood, Oleksandra Pashchenko, Christopher Leggett, et al.
Citation: Telemedicine and e-Health, 30(6), e1677-e1688
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Provider-to-Provider Telemedicine for Sepsis Is Used Less Frequently in Communities with High Social Vulnerability
Examines the relationship between provider-to-provider emergency department-based telehealth consultation (tele-ED) and the prevalence of sepsis in counties with elevated social vulnerability index (SVI) scores. Analyzes 2016-2019 data from 1191 patients treated in rural, Midwestern EDs, with breakdowns according to patient, provider, hospital, and county characteristics. Discusses the relationship between SVI scores and tele-ED use.
Author(s): Kevin J. Tu, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Uche E. Okoro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Examines the relationship between provider-to-provider emergency department-based telehealth consultation (tele-ED) and the prevalence of sepsis in counties with elevated social vulnerability index (SVI) scores. Analyzes 2016-2019 data from 1191 patients treated in rural, Midwestern EDs, with breakdowns according to patient, provider, hospital, and county characteristics. Discusses the relationship between SVI scores and tele-ED use.
Author(s): Kevin J. Tu, J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Uche E. Okoro, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Declines in Telemedicine Use Among Adults: United States, 2021 and 2022
Examines changes in telemedicine use by adults between 2021 and 2022. Analyzes data by various sociodemographic characteristics, Census Bureau region, and level of urbanization.
Author(s): Jacqueline W. Lucas, Xun Wang
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Examines changes in telemedicine use by adults between 2021 and 2022. Analyzes data by various sociodemographic characteristics, Census Bureau region, and level of urbanization.
Author(s): Jacqueline W. Lucas, Xun Wang
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Health Statistics
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Computer and Internet Use in the United States: 2021
Analyzes both 2021 American Community Survey 1-year data and 2017-2021 5-year data to report on computer use by device type and broadband subscriptions. Includes rural and urban comparisons within 4 regions and by state.
Author(s): Daniela Mejía
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Analyzes both 2021 American Community Survey 1-year data and 2017-2021 5-year data to report on computer use by device type and broadband subscriptions. Includes rural and urban comparisons within 4 regions and by state.
Author(s): Daniela Mejía
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Understanding the Rise of Ransomware Attacks on Rural Hospitals
Explores trends in ransomware attacks on rural hospitals between 2016 and 2021 by analyzing data from the Tracking Healthcare Ransomware Events and Traits (THREAT) database. Describes the types of rural hospitals that experienced ransomware attacks during this period. Compares the frequency of hospitals' operational disruptions during attacks by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Hannah T. Neprash, Claire C. McGlave, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Explores trends in ransomware attacks on rural hospitals between 2016 and 2021 by analyzing data from the Tracking Healthcare Ransomware Events and Traits (THREAT) database. Describes the types of rural hospitals that experienced ransomware attacks during this period. Compares the frequency of hospitals' operational disruptions during attacks by urban and rural location.
Author(s): Hannah T. Neprash, Claire C. McGlave, Katie Rydberg, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
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Updated Analysis: Using Population-Based Outcome Measures to Assess the Impact of Telehealth Expansion on Medicare Beneficiaries' Access to Care and Quality of Care
Explores the association between telehealth use, quality of care, and access to care when both telehealth and in-person visits are available to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries. Compares data from the second half of 2018 and 2019 to the second half of 2022 by the level of telehealth utilization in Hospital Service Areas (HSAs). Describes the effects of telehealth for urban and rural beneficiaries and differentiates between telehealth utilization for behavioral and non-behavioral health services. Updates a June 2023 report that analyzed data from 2021.
Author(s): Tanvi Rao, Angshuman Gooptu, Karin Johnson, Guido Cataife, Steven Susana-Castillo
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Explores the association between telehealth use, quality of care, and access to care when both telehealth and in-person visits are available to fee-for-service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries. Compares data from the second half of 2018 and 2019 to the second half of 2022 by the level of telehealth utilization in Hospital Service Areas (HSAs). Describes the effects of telehealth for urban and rural beneficiaries and differentiates between telehealth utilization for behavioral and non-behavioral health services. Updates a June 2023 report that analyzed data from 2021.
Author(s): Tanvi Rao, Angshuman Gooptu, Karin Johnson, Guido Cataife, Steven Susana-Castillo
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Institutes for Research, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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The Evolution of Health System Planning and Implementation of Maternal Telehealth Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Analyzes the impact of telehealth to provide maternal healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes interview feedback from 15 health system leaders to discuss issues such as telehealth reimbursement, research, access, barriers, and integration. Includes commentary on telehealth use in rural areas.
Author(s): Monisa Aijaz, Burcu Bozkurt, Arrianna Marie Planey, et al.
Citation: Digital Health, 10
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Analyzes the impact of telehealth to provide maternal healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes interview feedback from 15 health system leaders to discuss issues such as telehealth reimbursement, research, access, barriers, and integration. Includes commentary on telehealth use in rural areas.
Author(s): Monisa Aijaz, Burcu Bozkurt, Arrianna Marie Planey, et al.
Citation: Digital Health, 10
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 7/19/2024