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History In The Making

CTeL forged the path for modern-day virtual care delivery. This fall, we will set the agenda for post-COVID telehealth policy and the future of digital health.

Join us as we continue our legacy of policy leadership with Congress, the White House, and the Administration.

Now Open: Early Bird Registration

CTeL Fall 2020 Digital Health Summit Early Bird Registration for December 1st- 4th, 2020 is NOW OPEN! Take advantage of the Early Bird Rate of $1,890.00 until Monday, August 31st! Your CTeL Fall 2020 Registration includes an all access 6-month CTeL membership with benefits.

CTeL Membership Benefits:

• Summit Access | Live Virtual Event
• Advocacy | Capital Hill Day Access
• Administration Meetings: White House, HHS & CMS Meetings
• Research | 50 State Surveys & Policy Analysis
• Networking and Business Development Opportunities
• Working Groups, Coalitions, and Webinars

More Information

For more information, book time with our Executive Director, Christa Natoli. For immediate assistance, reach out to April Jenkins or Aileen Berquist.

LAST CHANCE: The CTeL Summit Kicks Off Tomorrow!

Join us virtually for the: Telehealth Event of the Year!

December 2-4, 2020 at the CTeL Fall 2020 Digital Summit

Exhibit at the Fall 2020 Digital Health Summit

This year our beautiful virtual exhibit hall will host research posters and vendor exhibits. Space is limited, so apply today!

December 1-4, CTeL will host a select group of 20 exhibitors and posters.

Exhibitors will have the opportunity to engage with all 150 attendees at our Fall 2020 Digital Health Summit.

Submit your poster abstract or exhibit inquiry between September 10th and October 10th.

Reach out to April Noel, CTeL conference manager, for more information.

To be considered, an individual or company must be a registered and paid attendee for the 2020 Fall Digital Health Summit.

Participation in the Summit does not guarantee a spot in the exhibit hall.

New Telehealth Bill Aims to Extend COVID Telehealth

• Last week Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Bill Johnson (R-OH), David Schweikert (R-AZ), and Doris Matsui (D-CA) introduced the Protecting Access to Post-COVID 19 Telehealth Act of 2020.
• The bill makes permanent certain telehealth changes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) implemented during the public health emergency.
• Some of those changes include eliminating most geographic and originating site restrictions; continuing reimbursement for telehealth for 90 days beyond the end of the public health emergency; and making permanent the disaster waiver authority.
• The bill has received support from many in the health and telehealth industry.
• Read the full story here.

Health System Using Drone Delivery in New m-Health Rollout

• North Carolina health system Wake Forest Baptist Health has rolled out a new m-health program using drones.
• The drones deliver Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and specialty infusion medicines to sites within the health network.
• Wake Forest is not the first health system to employ drones: organizations in California and Florida have also started using drones to deliver health services.
• The health system is partnering with Matternet and UPS Flight Forward.
• Read the full story here.

Language Interpretation Services Lagging Behind Overall Telehealth Growth

• The pandemic caused an exponential growth in telehealth use, but nearly 10% of the United State's population with limited English proficiency is being left behind.
• For telehealth to fully support patients, language interpretation services must be fully developed and integrated.
• Federal law mandates that health care providers that receive federal funding must provide language access to patients.
• The CEO of Certified Languages International notes that very few telehealth platforms are actually working on video interpretation services, despite the federal mandate.
• Read the full story here.

You''re Invited: CTeL''s Call for Research Meeting

Join us as we discuss potential research topics. Submit your research idea directly to our team!

• What: Call for Research Meeting
• When: Thursday, October 1, 2020 @ 1:00 PM ET
• Who: Telehealth Community Leaders
• Where: https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/957685581, or join by phone: +1 (224) 501-3412 | Access Code: 957-685-581

New Bill Considers Permanent Telehealth Coverage for Therapists

• A new House bill aims to permanently extend emergency telehealth measures for certain providers.
• The Expanded Telehealth Access Act "would ensure Medicare coverage for telehealth services provided by physical and occupational therapists [PTs & OTs], audiologists[,] and speech and language pathologists."
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) suspended current limitations on telehealth use and coverage for PTs and OTs for the duration of COVID.
• The bill would make the CMS waiver permanent and allow the Secretary of Health and Human services to expand the list of eligible providers.
• The American Telemedicine Association (ATA), American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), eHealth Initiative and Foundation, and others have expressed support.
• Supporters note that the bill faces an uphill battle for approval on its own, but hope that the bill can be combined with similar bills in a bipartisan package.
• Read the full story here.

Alliance for Connected Care Advocates for Telehealth Licensure Compact

• The Alliance for Connected Care seeks the aid of federal and state policymakers in making it easier for health professionals to treat patients via telehealth regardless of the patient's location.
• The organization lays out their reasons in the Consensus Principles on Telehealth Across State Lines, which urges support for "licensure recognition in multiple states."
• While many support a move towards multi-state licensure, critics note that recent compacts still require practitioners to be licensed in multiple states.
• Instead, the Alliance hopes to see a single license recognized by multiple states or one the entire country recognizes.
• The goal is to ensure that states maintain their right "to regulate the practice of medicine within their borders" and "facilitate access to care across state lines."
• Read the full story here.

Two Health Systems Receive Grants for Telehealth Projects That Focus on Women's Health

• The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) is giving two health systems nearly $10 million in grants to study how telehealth can improve health outcomes for women.
• The University of Washington's SISTER Study, "a six-month nationwide project aimed at improving clinical outcomes for Black/African American women living with endometrial cancer," will receive $6 million.
• The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) will receive $3.7 million to conduct a two-year study on how telehealth can "improve perinatal treatment for women dealing with depression and anxiety."
• The study also compares services delivered via telehealth with traditional in-person treatments.
• For the full story, read here.

Exhibit at the Fall 2020 Digital Health Summit

This year our virtual exhibit hall will host research posters and vendor exhibits. Space is limited, so apply today!

December 1-4, CTeL will host a select group of 20 exhibitors and posters.

Exhibitors will have the opportunity to engage with all 150 attendees at our Fall 2020 Digital Health Summit.

Submit your poster abstract or exhibit inquiry between September 10th and October 31.

Reach out to April Noel, CTeL conference manager, for more information.

To be considered, an individual or company must be a registered and paid attendee for the 2020 Fall Digital Health Summit.

Participation in the Summit does not guarantee a spot in the exhibit hall.

AMA Foundation Collaboration Helps Chicago Providers Combat Hypertension

• The American Medical Association (AMA) Foundation recently donated $100,000 to West Side United, a Chicago-based organization that "uses telehealth to help underserved residents monitor hypertension."
• The donation is a part of collaboration between AMA and American Heart Association (AHA) to help providers tackle high rates of hypertension.
• In addition to this recent donation, AMA and AHA, in partnership with other West Side providers, distributed 1,000 mHealth devices to residents with hypertension.
• Chicago's West Side is not the only area receiving attention: organizations across the country are launching connected health programs in places like beauty salons and barbershops in a bid to reach medically underserved communities.
• Read the full story here.

Ohio Health Groups Partner to Provide Telemedicine to Amazon Customers

• Healthcare Advisory Network and BasiCare Plus, two Ohio-based health organizations, announced their partnership "to offer a telemedicine solution with free prescription drugs to Amazon customers."
• Offering telemedicine services through Amazon allows for inexpensive health care and avoids costly copays and deductibles, said Health Advisory Network Vice President Mike Fitzgerald.
• Additionally, BasiCare Plus will be one of Amazon's only telemedicine providers to require no copay for most generic drugs.
• Patients interested in this option can visit Amazon and search for BasiCare Plus.
• For the full story, read here.

Telecommunication for Medicare Home Health Services Approved on Permanent Basis

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released their finalized Home Health Prospective Payment System rule on October 29, 2020.
• The rule "permanently authorizes use of telecommunications technology as part of patient care under the Medicare home health benefit."
• Effective January 1, 2021, home health agencies (HHAs) can use telecommunications and receive reimbursement for such services as long as six conditions are met.
• Telecommunication technologies are not considered reimbursable telehealth themselves as defined by Medicare.
• Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar and CMS Administrator Seema Verma note "the Medicare home health benefit is likely to remain in-person at its core."
• Furthermore, the rule does not adopt the full scope of authorized telehealth per COVID-19 waivers.
• Once the HHS public health emergency declaration expires, the telehealth blanket waivers will also end.
• For the full story, read here.

Speaker Spotlight

The Future of Telehealth Education

Aileen Berquist

CTeL

Garry Carneal

Schooner Strategies

Shawn Griffin

URAC

Tina Gustin

Old Dominion University

Kristi Sidel

Avera eCARE

Telehealth is booming like never before and practitioners, hospitals, and health systems want to know how to get started while staying compliant.

Join us at the Virtual Summit, June 16-19, for a panel highlighting telehealth education, organizational accreditation, and why you need both.

Panel Speaker

• Aileen Berquist, MPS, External Affairs Coordinator | The Center for Telehealth and e-Health Law
• Garry Carneal, JD, MA, President and CEO | Schooner Strategies
  
• Dr. Shawn Griffin, President and CEO | URAC
• Tina Gustin, DNP, CNS, RN, Assistant Professor & Director of Telehealth Research, Innovation, and Education Center | Old Dominion University
• Kristi Sidel, MHA, Director of Telemedicine Education | Avera eCARE

For 25 years, CTeL has been the leading source of legal, regulatory, and policy intelligence for the telehealth community.

Now you can get CTeL''s DHPP certification from the comfort of your home.

FACT 1: Telehealth use is on the rise

FACT 2: The current telehealth legal and policy environment is confusing

FACT 3: CTeL has an online learning program that can help

For Practitioners, administrators, attorneys and more! The CTeL Digital Health Policy Professional program is online, 24/7, to give you the grounding you need to do your job and stay compliant!

The rules of the road are rapidly changing and more people than ever are getting behind the wheel. Make sure you are ready to drive by taking the CTeL DHPP program.

CTeL's Coronavirus Webinar Series

Sarah Swank, Esq.

Counsel, Nixon Peabody LLP

David Ellenbogen, Esq.

General Counsel, Scott & White Health Plan

Commercial Payer: Telehealth Reimbursement During COVID-19

Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 ET

Join Nixon Peabody''s Sarah Swank and David Ellenbogen, General Counsel of the Scott & White Health Plan, for a discussion of commercial changes to telehealth coverage during the pandemic.

This series is $99 per webinar for non-Summit attendees.

Summit Attendees

Contact aileen@ctel.org for your free registration link!

These webinars are no extra cost to June 2020 and December 2019 Summit attendees-a value of $693 for all seven webinars.

Join us at the Summit-virtually!-and get your free access today.

Coming Soon

• Tuesday, May 5 at 12:30 ET: Interstate Occupational Licensure Compacts, EMAC, and the Pandemic

Past Webinars In This Series

• Recording Available: Privacy and Security During COVID-19: HIPAA and Beyond
• Recording Available: Medicare and Medicaid: Telehealth Reimbursement During COVID-19
• Recording Available: Ryan Haight and Telehealth Prescribing During COVID-19: The Fight Against Dual Epidemics

CTeL's Coronavirus Webinar Series

Sarah Swank, Esq.

Counsel, Nixon Peabody LLP

David Ellenbogen, Esq.

General Counsel, Scott & White Health Plan

Commercial Payer: Telehealth Reimbursement During COVID-19

Thursday, April 30 at 2:00 ET

Join Nixon Peabody''s Sarah Swank and David Ellenbogen, General Counsel of the Scott & White Health Plan, for a discussion of commercial changes to telehealth coverage during the pandemic.

This series is $99 per webinar for non-Summit attendees.

Summit Attendees

Contact aileen@ctel.org for your free registration link!

These webinars are no extra cost to June 2020 and December 2019 Summit attendees-a value of $693 for all seven webinars.

Join us at the Summit-virtually!-and get your free access today.

Coming Soon

• Tuesday, May 5 at 12:30 ET: Interstate Occupational Licensure Compacts, EMAC, and the Pandemic

Past Webinars In This Series

• Recording Available: Privacy and Security During COVID-19: HIPAA and Beyond
• Recording Available: Medicare and Medicaid: Telehealth Reimbursement During COVID-19
• Recording Available: Ryan Haight and Telehealth Prescribing During COVID-19: The Fight Against Dual Epidemics

LET''S GET EXHIBITING

Stop by our virtual exhibit hall December 1-4, to check out CTeL''s Fall 2020 Digital Health Summit Exhibitors!

Exhibitor Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak of some of the vendors exhibiting:

• ezClinic
• Goldsand Law
• Pyramid Healthcare
• MUSC
• UCSF Health
• Caregility

Interested in Exhibiting? We still have a few spots left! Email April Noel at april@ctel.org for more information, and to reserve your digital booth today!

Utah Extends Telehealth Services Due to COVID

• Utah Governor Gary Herbert issued an executive order after COVID cases hit a record high last week.
• The order extends the State of Emergency status for Utah, which was set to expire last week.
• In addition, the order suspends laws that prohibit the use of telehealth services, such as laws limiting the use of telehealth during a state of emergency.
• The order took effect Saturday, September 26 and is to remain in effect until Tuesday, September 29.
• Read the full story here and here.

Buckeye Institute Issues Report on New Ohio Bill

• The Ohio legislature is considering a new bill, HB 679, which would expand telehealth services within the state.
• The bill treats cost-sharing telehealth arrangements at the same rate as in-person visits.
• The bill also does not mandate the use of audio-visual telemedicine, allowing for the use of telephone and store-and-forward technology in certain situations.
• A local think tank, the Buckeye Institute, published a report detailing their support of certain provisions contained in the new legislation.
• In the report, James Woodward, PhD, an analyst with the Economic Research Center at Buckeye Institute, strongly supports the state's decision not to mandate payment parity.
• According to Woodward, "a payment parity mandate would steer payers away from covering telehealth services that haven't yet proven their value and stifle growth in the industry."
• The report also addressed another issue separate from HB 679, the ability of clinicians to practice across state lines.
• For the full story, read here.

HHS Releases Rural Action Plan

• Last week the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the Rural Action Plan per request by President Trump's executive order issued in August. ? The Rural Action Plan lays out a roadmap for HHS departments to coordinate efforts to better serve rural communities in America.
• According to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, "The Rural Action Plan identifies key tangible areas where HHS agencies can soon make a real difference in health outcomes of millions of Americans."
• The plan specifically provides a four-point strategy with corresponding actions.
• The first point focuses on building sustainable models for rural communities.
• The second point emphasizes technology and innovation's role in improving healthcare, specifically telehealth.
• The third point addresses ways to prevent disease and mortality.
• The plan ends with an overall goal to increase rural access to care.
• For the full story, read here.

Texas Representative Introduces Another Telehealth Expansion Bill

• U.S. Representative Roger Williams (R-TX) introduced a new bill last week that would extend various measures from the CARES Act.
• The Ensuring Telehealth Expansion Act focuses on six specific sections of the CARES Act, extending those provisions until 2025.
• Those sections are Sections 3701 - 3707, which detail telehealth waivers, flexibilities, and services for Medicare and other healthcare providers.
• Additionally, the bill "would also require the Government Accountability Office to report back to Congress.on the successes and challenges associated with the expansion of connected health."
• Read the full story here.

Massachusetts Health Plan Launches Telehealth Program for Family Caregivers

• Harvard Pilgrim Health Care is launching a new telehealth program for family caregivers.
• The Massachusetts-based health plan is partnering with Ceresti Health, a California-based company, "to create an education, coaching and support program for caregivers."
• Even before COVID, family caregivers faced the challenges of caring for a loved one while trying to keep a stable home or work life.
• The telehealth program aims to alleviate some of the burden by giving caregivers access to personalized information on how to take care of their loved ones, all available on their personal devices.
• The program will be provided at no cost to family caregivers first in the Massachusetts and New Hampshire areas.
• Read the full story here.

New Survey Indicates Continued Widespread Use of Tele-Mental Health

• Telehealth is being used by a majority of behavioral health providers polled in a new survey.
• Findings show a positive outlook for video-conferencing-based behavioral health therapies.
• Researchers believe the data show that telehealth is comparable or better on multiple quality indicators compared to traditional mental health services.

Research from digital behavioral health company Tridiuum shows that over 80 percent of behavioral health companies began offering telehealth services in the last 6 months and a majority plan to continue using telehealth post-pandemic. The study also shows that telehealth use has a positive impact on several components of the patient-to-provider interaction. Clinical effectiveness, therapeutic alliances, patient disclosures, and clinical workflow all demonstrated positive outcomes from telehealth. Some examples of these outcomes are increased patient disclosure; improved patient/provider relationships; more personalized engagements; and a more streamlined clinical workflow. Interpretation of the data overall shows that patients and providers are benefiting. The survey polled 438 mostly first-time telehealth users. Read more here.

Connecticut Bill Temporarily Extends COVID-19 Telehealth Coverage

• The Connecticut House passed a bill last week extending the state's emergency measures for telehealth coverage.
• The telehealth bill, HB 6001, passed unanimously in the House and was heard before the Senate this Tuesday.
• The bill is now headed to Governor Ned Lamont for his signature.
• The legislation addresses Medicaid and commercial payers and:
• Expands the list of care providers able to use telehealth
• Allows reimbursement for audio-only phone and other audio-visual telemedicine platforms, including FaceTime, Skype and Facebook Messenger;
• Allows care providers to use telehealth from any location; and
• Requires reimbursement parity for telehealth services, and prevents insurers from seeking co-pays or deductibles or reducing the amount of reimbursement to providers.
• Read the full story here.

Idaho Task Force Consider New Telehealth Definition

• An Idaho task force is examining the multiple legal definitions of telehealth in Idaho with an eye toward potential change.
• Task force members raised concerns that current definitions might exclude new forms of healthcare delivery or new technologies.
• Advocates of changing the definition say that a broader definition would allow for more choice in healthcare and "future-proof" the definition against advances in healthcare.
• Others voiced concern that a loose definition could lead to lower quality of care. ? The task force is also discussing insurance coverage of telehealth and expanding broadband access.
• The task force will finalize its recommendations this coming fall.
• Read the full story here.

New HHS Report Makes the Case for Post-COVID Expansion

• The Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) released a brief on the critical role Medicare's expanded telehealth coverage played during COVID.
• The report showed "the percentage of fee-for-service Medicare services accessed via telehealth jumped from 0.1% in February to almost 44% in April."
• The report also discussed how quickly the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and its beneficiaries were able to adapt to the new form of healthcare delivery.
• While the report implies an intent to expand telehealth coverage post-COVID-19, no specifics were mentioned.
• The report also addressed concerns that telehealth interest is decreasing after a peak, stating this is an expected result of providers balancing virtual care and necessary in-person visits which were side-lined early in the pandemic.
• Read the full story here.

Patients Desire Both In-Person and Telehealth Options for Healthcare

• A recent survey by OnePoll on behalf of DocASAP considered the impact of COVID on in-person and telehealth care options as well as patient preferences.
• The poll seems to show that while patients like and have grown accustomed to telehealth, 44% of patients want their provider continue offering in-person services alongside telehealth.
• A large majority of patients prefer that telehealth be used for administrative functions, such as appointment scheduling, reminders, and follow-ups.
• Additionally, the survey showed patients want immediate care, with certain groups indicating they would only wait up to three days while others would wait up to a week.
• For the full story, read here.

HHS 5-year Strategic Plan to Include Electronic Health Record Accessibility on Smartphones

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released its Federal Health IT Strategic Plan (final 2020-2025) in early November.
• The strategic plan is the result of efforts with more than 25 federal organizations and almost 100 public comments.
• The plan contains four main objectives, with each objective followed by action steps to serve as a roadmap.
• The plan "reflects the federal government's commitment to making patients' electronic health record (EHR) information accessible on their smartphones."
• The plan also advocates for the adoption of better telehealth infrastructure and promotes greater competition in the health IT market by reducing barriers and obstacles to market entry.
• For the full story, read here.

San Francisco Telehealth Platform Reducing ER Congestion and Providing More Effective Care

• Emergency Medicine International published a study on a nurse-based telehealth platform employed by the San Francisco VA health system.
• The telehealth platform, "supported by urgent care clinicians," "allows veterans to call a nurse for advice on an urgent care concern."
• The study extended over a fourth-month period in 2019 and found that the majority of health concerns were effectively handled via telehealth, reducing emergency room congestion.
• Any issues not resolved through telehealth were usually cases of technical difficulty or the patient's preference for in-person care.
• The study revealed how effectively hospitals were able to screen patients before they even left their homes and direct them towards the correct level of care via the telehealth platform.
• Read the full story here.

Telehealth Taskforce Releases Recommendations for Policy Changes

• The American Telemedicine Association, Alliance for Connected Care, and National Committee for Quality Assurance launched the Taskforce on Telehealth Policy in June.
• The goal behind the taskforce was to study how telehealth was used during COVID and release recommendations based on the results.
• The task force just released their report, which they say, "demonstrates that both patient and clinicians agree that remote care options should remain available after the public health emergency comes to an end."
• The restrictions placed on the technology need to be reconsidered, the authors believe.
• The report details changes policymakers should consider, focusing on patient safety, program integrity, data flow, care coordination, quality assurance, and total cost of care.
• For the full story, read here.

Connected Health Initiative Expresses Support for the Telehealth Modernization Act

• The Connected Health Initiative (CHI) issued an open letter to Senator Lamar Alexander (R-TN), Chairman of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, expressing support for the Telehealth Modernization Act.
• The bill was introduced by Senator Alexander.
• CHI is a coalition of stakeholders in the health industry whose focus is on protecting access to virtual care, especially after the public health emergency ends.
• The Telehealth Modernization Act "would amend Medicare originating site rules for telehealth to include the patient's home and relax the geographic restrictions on telehealth provisions."
• The act also expands the list of acceptable telehealth providers, among other things.
• CHI further noted in their letter that the act must be "future-proofed" and crafted in such a way that certain patient populations are not left behind.
• Read the full story here.

The VA and Apple Join Forces to Expand Virtual Care Options for Veterans

• The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Apple are joining together to increase access to virtual care for veterans.
• "Through the VA's iPad program, qualifying veterans with cellular-enabled iPads can access telehealth services."
• A recent VA study showed higher veteran satisfaction with care when they had access to virtual care through a tablet.
• In addition to faster access to care, patients can also access their personal medical information through the iPhone Health Records feature. ?
• Read the full story here.

Report Lists the Top Specialties Using Telemedicine

• Doximity recently released its 2020 State of Telemedicine Report analyzing telemedicine adoption among U.S. physicians.
• In previous studies, physicians reporting telemedicine as a skill increased by about 20% per year; this year's report noted a 38% increase, almost double from years prior.
• The report also listed the top ten specialties using telemedicine.
• Topping the list is endocrinology, followed by rheumatology and gastroenterology.
• For the full story, read here.

It''s coming. The CTeL Summit is coming...

Join us virtually, December 1-4, 2020 at the CTeL Fall 2020 Digital Summit

Today''s Telehealth Buzz

HHS Awards Additional Funds for Telehealth

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has authorized the Health Resource and Services Administration (HRSA) to allocate an additional $20 million to telehealth infrastructure and access.

• HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB) awarded $15 million to four different organizations to further develop their telehealth services for pregnant women, families, children, and adolescents amid COVID-19.

• An additional $5 million was awarded through the Licensure Portability Grant Program to aid licensing boards and national compacts in developing a streamlined process for telehealth providers to obtain multi-state licensure and credentialing.

• Read the full story here.

New Telehealth Guidelines and a Veto in Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has vetoed SB 857, over an amendment that banned the prescribing of mifepristone, which induces medical abortions, via telehealth.
• Gov. Wolf issued the Cross-Agency Telehealth Guidelines to accomplish some of the provisions SB 857 would have implemented in continued efforts to fight COVID.
• The guidelines expand the list of acceptable telehealth providers, expand telehealth coverage under Medicaid, "notes the Pennsylvania Insurance Department's expectations for telehealth coverage by private insurers, [and] enables Early Intervention programs to use telehealth and expands telemental health opportunities, including for substance abuse programs."
• Read the full story here.

New CMS Tehelealth Waivers and Guidelines in Light of COVID

• CMS has released a new round of waivers for telehealth to address the Public Health Emergency (PHE).
• For the duration of the PHE, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech language pathologists will be eligible to bill for telehealth services.
• CMS is waiving the required use of video telehealth for a variety of services.
• Opioid Treatment Programs may conduct periodic assessments via audio-only telephone in situations where beneficiaries do not have access to two-way video-audio technology.
• Medicare will now cover and reimburse telehealth services provided by Rural Health Centers and Federally Qualified Health Centers as acceptable distant sites, per mandate by the CARES Act.
• The restrictions on home-based and out-patient telehealth reimbursement for hospitals has been loosened to allow reimbursement as long as the services meets certain criteria.
• CMS also issued a new telehealth code approval procedure that operates more quickly, though any new codes will only remain in effect during the public health emergency.
• Read the full story here.

Connecticut Telehealth Bill Headed to State Senate

• Last week the Connecticut House passed a bill expanding telehealth services.
• The bill, HB 6001, passed unanimously in the House and will be heard in the Senate on Tuesday.
• If passed, the bill cements Governor Ned Lamont's emergency telehealth orders into state law until March 15, 2021.
• The emergency orders allow audio-only phone calls and expand the list of practitioners able to utilize telehealth.
• In addition to extending the emergency telehealth measures, the bill ensures payment parity, which requires insurers to reimburse telehealth at the same amount as the service provided in-person.
• Read the full story here.

BCBS of Minnesota Will Cover Telehealth Through 2020

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota announced it will continue to provide the same rate of reimbursement for telehealth as for in-person visits for the duration of 2020.
• The company will also continue to waive cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment and testing.
• Health centers across Minnesota are also making moves toward more telehealth.? HealthPartners Inc. recently announced that it closed several clinics to re-direct resources towards virtual care.
• Medica, a regional insurance provider, agreed "to reimburse telehealth visits at the same rate as in-person visits through at least the end of October."
• Read the full story here.

New Partnership Brings Telehealth to Arizona Schools

• New Partnership Brings Telehealth to Arizona Schools
• Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District partnered with Mariposa Community Health Center to provide telemedicine to students in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.
• As the school year approaches, the partnership is an attempt to ensure parents, teachers, and students feel more comfortable going back to school amid COVID.
• "The health aid at each school will get a laptop and all the medical equipment.need[ed] for a virtual visit with a doctor."
• Mariposa Community Health Center will provide the training and equipment to the schools.
• According to Dr. Phillip Williams, an area pediatrician, about 80% of normal in-person visits can be done just as well through telehealth, which will help keep children in school and parents at work.
• The program will also increase accessibility and expand access to early intervention for behavioral health.
• Read the full story here.

New Hampshire Permanently Expands Telehealth Coverage

• Last week New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed HB 1623 into law.? The new law "amends the state's definition of telemedicine to include new modalities, including audio-only phones."
• It also requires Medicaid and private insurance companies to reimburse telehealth services at the same rate as the same service provided in-person.
• Additionally, restrictions on originating and distant sites are terminated, and the list of acceptable telehealth providers is expanded.
• The state will no longer require an in-person physical exam prior to a telehealth appointment for substance abuse disorder (SUD) patients.
• In treating SUDs patients, practitioners can now prescribe Class II-IV non-opioid controlled substances through telehealth.
• Read the full story here.

New Jersey Approves Medical Cannabis Prescriptions Via Teleheath During Pandemic

• New Jersey is the latest state to adopt cannabis telemedicine measures.
• The state's attorney general announced Tuesday that patients can now obtain medical marijuana recommendations and prescriptions for controlled substances for chronic pain via telehealth.
• The telehealth option must still comply with state law and DEA standards, including use of both audio and video during meetings, maintaining the standard of care, and discussing risks and benefits as well as alternatives.
• The administrative order will expire when New Jersey is no longer in a state of emergency or when the DEA telehealth allowance ends, whichever comes first. ? New Jersey also allows medical cannabis dispensaries to deliver products directly to patients.
• Several other places, including Delaware, Louisiana, and Washington D.C., have implemented similar cannabis laws.
• For the full story, read here and here.

CMS Will Remove 74 Temporary Telehealth Codes After COVID

• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services plans to eliminate many temporary telehealth codes after the Public Health Emergency (PHE) ends.
• The proposed 2021 Physician Fee Schedule outlines nine codes that will remain and seventy-four codes that will be cut.
• The temporary codes will be removed because CMS does not see a likelihood that there will be a clinical benefit to the services after the PHE ends.
• Stakeholders are encouraged to submit comment as well as data in support of keeping any of the services CMS plans to discontinue.
• CMS also plans to add thirteen new codes on a temporary basis.
• Read the full story here.

New Tennessee Law Mandates Payment and Reimbursement Parity for Telehealth

• Last week the Tennessee Legislature passed HB 8002 during a special session ordered by Governor Bill Lee.
• HB 8002 mandates that "payers cover telehealth services as they would cover in-person care" and enforces reimbursement parity through April 2022.
• Payers are also required to cover remote patient monitoring services that are covered by Medicare, with price negotiated between payer and provider.
• The bill alters the originating site definition to be wherever the patient is located for the service as long as the provider is in a qualified site.
• Veterinarians and licensed substance abuse counselors are allowed to use telehealth to establish the patient-provider relationship through April 2022.
• Read the full story here.

Senators Call On VA to Expand Telehealth Options for Beneficiaries

• Several Senators sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Robert Wilkie petitioning the VA to expand telehealth coverage for veterans and their families during COVID.
• Though the VA's Civilian Health and Medical Program (CHAMPVA) covers beneficiaries for real-time audio-visual telemedicine consultations, many people do not have access to the technology.
• As a result, the letter calls on the VA to cover telephone calls and text messaging under CHAMPVA during COVID.
• A total of fourteen Senators signed the letter, including Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), John Tester (D-MT), and Angus King (I-ME).
• Read the full story here.

DC Combating Maternal Mortality with Telehealth Coverage Extension Act

• The DC Council unanimously voted to pass the Postpartum Coverage Extension Act Amendment of 2020 which "extends postpartum inpatient and outpatient [telehealth] benefits through Medicaid from 60 days after childbirth to at least a year."
• Mayor Muriel Bowser will seek Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services' (CMS) approval to cover "innovative models of care," such as telehealth visits and remote patient monitoring.
• Washington DC has some of the highest maternal mortality rates in the country and many of those deaths might be prevented if mothers had the right access to prenatal care.
• The act amends DC's Telehealth Reimbursement Act of 2013 and has garnered support from groups such as March of Dimes and the Preeclampsia Foundation.
• For the full story, read here.

New Telehealth Initiative for California's Agriculture Communities

• The Center for Information Technology Research in the Interest of Society (CITRIS) & the Banatao Institute at the University of California are launching a new telehealth program for rural agricultural families.
• The new initiative, called Accountability, Coordination and Telehealth in the Valley to Achieve Transformation and Equity (ACTIVATE), "aims to use connected health to improve access to care and care outcomes for rural residents in Merced County."
• Initially, one community health center will offer telehealth and remote patient monitoring services, with expansion to other health facilities to follow.
• The program will also provide health education and digital literacy training to residents.
• The overall goal of ACTIVATE is to develop a connected care roadmap for public and private sector use in California and across the nation.
• Read the full story here.

Federal Agencies Come Together for Rural Telehealth Initiative

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is partnering with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a Rural Telehealth Initiative.
• In a Memorandum of Understanding, the Rural Telehealth Initiative is described as "a joint effort to collaborate and share information to address health disparities, resolve service provider challenges, and promote broadband technology to rural Americans."
• Each organization has instituted various measures of its own to ease the burden felt by rural communities during COVID.
• The FCC approved over 500 telehealth funding applications under the COVID-19 Telehealth Program.
• The USDA has agreed to provide up to $650 million in grants and loans for the expansion of broadband connectivity through the Rural Broadband ReConnect Program.
• Together, these agencies hope to accomplish much more to better telehealth for rural America.
• Read the full story here.

Ohio Medicaid Seeks Permanent Extension of COVID Telehealth Measures

• Ohio's Medicaid program expanded telehealth services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Now Ohio Medicaid is petitioning to make those expanded measures permanent.
• The proposed rule expands the current telehealth definition to include remote patient monitoring, telephone, and secured email and fax communications.
• The rule adds more than ten types of supervised practitioners to the list of providers able to bill for telehealth services and expands the list of eligible telehealth services.
• Lastly, the rule "relaxes the requirements for balancing virtual care with in-person care, and expands the list of sites where telehealth can be delivered."
• The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review will consider the proposed rule, which, if approved, becomes effective when the public health emergency ends.
• Read the full story here.

CMS 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Could Limit Remote Patient Monitoring

• In the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, released in August, "CMS has made three significant changes, each of which 'would impose more restrictions (or) burden RPM in a significant way'."
• First, CMS currently allows coverage of RPM for new and established patients during COVID but will revert to coverage for established patients only after the public health emergency ends.
• Second, CMS includes 20 minutes on a telephone or video platform in its "interactive communication" requirement.
• It is not clear whether the rule "actually intended RPM codes to require a practitioner to spend at least 20 minutes per month of time communicating via audio or video with a patient."
• Lastly, CMS only allows providers to bill once per patient per 30-day period under CPT codes 99453 and 99454, regardless of the number devices the patient used.
• To some, the rule hinders providers because they are unable to gather necessary data across multiple devices and bill for those multiple devices.
• CMS is accepting comments on the proposed rule through September.
• Read the full story here.

Research, Policy, Action:

That''s the CTeL Summit, December 1-4, 2020 Register Today!

Early bird registration ends on September 30th. Take advantage of the early bird rate soon and get access to a 6-month CTeL Membership!

Summit participants have access to:

• All Summit sessions, live and recorded
• Capitol Hill Day
• Virtual meetings with Administrative agencies
• 6 months of membership benefits

Webinar:

Privacy Considerations in the Commercialization of Health Data and the Use of AI

Wednesday August 19th at 3:00 PM EST

Agenda

Overview of Privacy Laws . HIPAA Application to AI . Data Monetization in Compliance with Law . Data Monetization Considerations Generally . Perspectives on Commercialization. Contracting and Data Safeguards

Joshua Boxer, Esq.

Helenmarie Blake, Esq.

Kristi Kung , Esq.

Presenters

• Kristi Kung, Esq. | Partner, Healthcare Practice | DLA Piper LLP
• Josh Boxer, Esq., CHC, BCS | Chief Compliance and Chief Privacy Officer | IntegraConnect
• Helenmarie Blake Esq. | Chief Privacy & Data Integrity Officer | UHealth and Data Privacy Officer | University of Miami

New Senate Bill Requests CMS Cover Expectant Mother Telehealth Programs

• Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Todd Young (R-IN), and Tom Carper (D-DE) introduced a bill that focuses on coverage for telehealth programs that monitor expectant mothers.
• The Connected Maternal Online Mothering Services (MOM) Act (S.4859) "would establish coverage for remote patient monitoring programs for pregnant women that track blood pressure, blood glucose and pulse rates through connected health devices."
• Lawmakers received inspiration for the new legislation from the New Orleans-based Connected Maternity Online Mothering (MOM) Program, which identifies pregnancy-related health concerns early through the aid of mHealth devices.
• The MOM Act, if passed, would ensure that programs such as New Orleans' MOM Program receive the appropriate telehealth coverage from Medicare and Medicaid.
• Read the full story here.

Georgia Composite Medical Board Makes Changes to Telemedicine Practice Standards

• The Georgia Composite Medical Board recently finalized changes to its telemedicine practice standards.
• The amendment addresses the use of technology in telemedicine and provides clarity on the Board's position on the use of peripherals during a patient's examination done through telemedicine.
• The Board also made changes to Georgia Rules and Regulations Section 360-3-.07(3)(d), "Practice Through Electronic or Other Such Means"
• Section 360-3-.07(3)(d) lists scenarios in which a Georgia-licensed practitioner can provide telemedicine services without a prior in-person examination.
• The revised rule states, "A Georgia-licensed practitioner can offer treatment.via telemedicine if the practitioner is able 'to examine the patient using technology or peripherals that are equal or superior'" to an in-person examination.
• The rule, which previously used the phrase "technology and peripherals," now gives providers more room with the new phrase "technology or peripherals."
• Practitioners are still required to adhere to the applicable standard of care as well as any other requirements within the section.
• For the full story, read here.

New Telehealth Accreditation for Home Healthcare

• The Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC) launched a new accreditation standard for telehealth that focuses on the home healthcare market.
• The Distinction in Telehealth "designation [is] for care providers who use connected health platforms for ambulatory care, behavioral health, home health, hospice, private duty and renal analysis."
• Health Recovery Solutions (HRS), a New Jersey-based telehealth provider, worked closely with ACHC to develop the new accreditation designation.
• ACHC joins the ranks of the Utilization Review of Accreditation Commission (URAC) and the American Board of Telehealth (ABT) in providing telehealth-related accreditation.
• Read the full story here.

You''re Invited: CTeL''s Hump Day Happy Hour!

Join us for drinks and conversation, virtually, on Wednesday, October 14th.

Happy hour starts at 5:00 PM ET, so we hope to see you there!

• What: Hump Day Happy Hour
• When: Wednesday, October 14th @ 5:00 PM ET
• Who: CTeL Members
• Where: Zoom - Calendar Invitation to be provided upon RSVP
• RSVP: Please RSVP to April Noel (april@ctel.org) by Tuesday, 10/13/20

CTeL's Coronavirus Webinar Series

Rick Masters, Esq.

Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission

James Redstone

White House Domestic Policy Council

Interstate Occupational Licensure Compacts, EMAC, and the Pandemic

Tuesday, May 5 at 12:30 ET

Join us for a discussion on the use of occupational licensure compacts and the Emergency Management Assistance Compact during the pandemic.

Speakers

• Rick Masters is Legal Counsel, Interstate Medical Licensure Compact Commission & Nurse Licensure Compact Commission & Special Counsel, National Center for Interstate Compacts, The Council of State Governments('NCIC'). He provides legal guidance on the law and use of interstate compacts, their application and enforcement and bill drafting guidance in conjunction with the various NCIC compact projects.

• James Redstone is Special Assistant to the President on Domestic Policy. He leads policy development and implementation for the National Council of the American Worker including partnerships with the Departments of Commerce, Education, and Labor involving state and federal regulatory reform, legislative proposals, and grant making.

This series is $99 per webinar for non-Summit attendees.

Summit Attendees

Contact aileen@ctel.org for your free registration link!

These webinars are no extra cost to June 2020 and December 2019 Summit attendees-a value of $693 for all seven webinars.

Join us at the Summit-virtually!-and get your free access today.

Coming Soon

• Thursday, April 30, 2:00 ET: Commercial Payer: Telehealth Reimbursement During COVID-19
  

Past Webinars In This Series

• Recording Available: Privacy and Security During COVID-19: HIPAA and Beyond
• Recording Available: Medicare and Medicaid: Telehealth Reimbursement During COVID-19
• Recording Available: Ryan Haight and Telehealth Prescribing During COVID-19: The Fight Against Dual Epidemics

New Legislation Allows California Community Paramedicine to Use Telehealth

• California EMS providers can now develop community paramedicine programs that utilize telehealth to "triage 911 calls at home and divert patients from hospital ERs to more appropriate care providers."
• The Community Paramedicine or Triage to Alternate Destination Act 2020 (AB 1544), sponsored by State Assemblyman Michael Gipson and signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, enables the development and oversight of these paramedicine programs.
• In the emergency context, the use of mHealth devices could include on-demand audio-visual access to mental health specialists, ER doctors, and others.
• The bill is intended to address the growing mental health crisis in the state, which results in overcrowded emergency rooms and limited access to appropriate services.
• For the full story, read here.

Ohio Legislature Considers Bill to Expand Telehealth Services

• The Ohio legislature is considering a new bill that would continue expanding telehealth services past COVID.
• HB 679 "would expand the existing telehealth laws to apply to more providers, including psychologists, audiologists, speech pathologists, independent social workers, occupational therapists, independent chemical dependency counselors, and dieticians."
• The proposed bill also does away with the need for a special permit from the State Dental Board for dentists to use telehealth in their practices.
• Medicaid telehealth services and mental health and addiction services would also be increased through the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services under the new bill.
• HB 679 requires health benefit plans to reimburse for covered telehealth services but specifies no specific reimbursement amount, and cost sharing for telehealth cannot exceed the same service provided in-person.
• Read the full story here.

Missouri Hospital Partners with Schools to Bring Telehealth to Students

• Rural schools in Newton County, Missouri, are partnering with Freeman Neosho Hospital to offer telehealth services to students.
• The program, approved by the Newton County Commissioners and funded with $385,000 from the CARES Act, places telemedicine stations in schools to give staff and over 8,000 students on-demand access to health care providers.
• The program is designed to assist school nurses rather than act as a replacement.
• As the program proves successful in Newton County, the goal is to expand it into the surrounding counties.
• For the full story, read here.

FCC'S Connected Care Pilot Program to Launch Soon

• The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) released details on the Connected Care Pilot Program, laying out ground rules for eligibility.
• "A $100 million project aimed at improving telehealth access for low-income Americans and veterans," the program provides grants to cover 85% of telehealth connectivity costs.
• The Connected Care Pilot Program has been in the works for over two years since FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr and Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker first announced the program in 2018.
• The most recent FCC public notice details the rules for eligibility and the process to apply for grants, though no dates for receiving applications have been posted yet.
• Read the full story here.

Georgia Governor Vetoed Interstate Compact Bill

• SB 306 passed easily through Georgia's legislature, but Governor Brian Kemp vetoed the bill last month.
• The bill would have made Georgia the sixth state to join the Audiology and Speech Language Pathology Interstate Compact.
• Georgia audiologists and speech-language pathologists would have been able to treat patients in other member states using telehealth under the bill.
• Gov. Kemp cited two reasons why he chose to veto the bill: 1) the Georgia Occupational Regulation Review Council had not evaluated the bill and 2) the compact would still need four more states in order to be operational.
• The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) created the compact to allow providers in member states communicate, exchange information, and treat patients using connected care platforms.
• Currently, Utah, Colorado, North Carolina, West Virginia, and Oklahoma are the only states a part of the compact.
• For the full story, read here.

MedPAC to Advise on Telehealth Measures to Continue Past COVID

• The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) is set to advise Congress on a number of COVID telehealth measures that are set to expire once the public health emergency ends (PHE).
• MedPAC is a nonpartisan government agency that analysis and policy advice to Congress.
• Susan Thompson, a MedPAC commissioner and interim CEO of UnityPoint Health, acknowledges that telehealth is here to stay, especially since beneficiaries have come to expect connected healthcare services.
• Members are even willing to allow some telehealth flexibilities to remain, but only if they are covered under an advanced alternate payment model, not fee-for-service.
• While MedPAC knows the Pandora's box is permanently open, they believe "the government is walking a thin tightrope between expanding access and running up substantial costs."
• Other members expressed concerns about excessive use and the potential for fraud, though all agreed that providers will not be allowed to use non-HIPAA compliant connected platforms past the PHE.
• Read the full story here.

LET''S GET EXHIBITING

Stop by our virtual exhibit hall December 1-4, to check out CTeL''s Fall 2020 Digital Health Summit Exhibitors!

Exhibitor Sneak Peak

Here is a sneak peak of some of the vendors exhibiting:

• ezClinic
• Goldsand Law
• Pyramid Healthcare
• MUSC Health
• UCSF Health
• Caregility
• Blue Cirrus Consulting
• Coker Group

About Caregility

Caregility is a clinical collaboration and communications company focused on enabling the shortest and fastest path of care for patients with the right care giver and treatment plan. Leveraging years of experience in clinical environments as part of their parent company, Yorktel, their core offering, the UHE Platform, is a purpose-built ecosystem for the entire healthcare continuum.

The UHE Platform provides secure, reliable two-way audio and video communication designed for any device and clinical workflow, in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Today, Caregility supports 6,500 access points of care systems across the US. From ambulatory/acute/ICU/post-acute care settings to virtual care operation centers to patients in the home, Caregility is helping transform patient care delivery.

About ezClinic

ezClinic''s goal is to transform the future of virtual healthcare by delivering an intuitive platform and viewing system to make health management easier for both patients and healthcare providers.

ezClinic has developed a HIPAA compliant UHD video conferencing and all-in-one virtual care management tools - relieving administrative burdens while empowering patients to manage all their provider care from one portal.

About Goldsand Law

Goldsand Law provides cutting-edge legal solutions in the brick and mortar and digital health care spaces. The health care regulatory world is perilous. Virtually every dollar spent on health care in this country is regulated.

What constitutes clever marketing in a typical non-health care transaction likely implicates an array of state and federal criminal laws when health care is involved. Their experience and creativity allows them to see around corners before you reach the intersection.

About Pyramid Healthcare

Pyramid Healthcare provides treatment for adults and teens suffering from addiction or substance abuse, as well as individuals with mental health disorders. Their locations in western, central, and eastern Pennsylvania allow them to provide comprehensive care across the entire state to people with behavioral health issues.

As part of their unique 360? recovery system, Pyramid Healthcare Rehabilitation Center provides services for adults and teens in all stages of addiction. They focus on supplying a safe, supportive environment at all of their rehabilitation centers, where individuals learn and practice recovery and coping skills.

About MUSC Health

The Medical University of South Carolina is the state''s only comprehensive academic medical center.

They are changing what''s possible in health care through our ongoing mission to provide excellence in patient care, teaching, and research. MUSC Health and MUSC Children''s Health offer advanced care across South Carolina through hospitals, an extensive network of doctors'' offices, and telehealth.

About UCSF Health

UCSF Health is internationally renowned for providing highly specialized and innovative care. Their family of care includes UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights, UCSF Medical Center at Mount Zion and UCSF Medical Center at Mission Bay; UCSF Benioff Children''s Hospitals in Oakland and San Francisco; Langley Porter Psychiatric Hospital and Clinics; UCSF Benioff Children''s Physicians; and the UCSF Faculty Practice.

They are part of UC San Francisco, one of the top universities in the nation for health sciences research and higher education. By bringing together the world''s leading experts in nearly every area of health, they are able to drive advancements in treatment and technology that benefit patients everywhere.

About Blue Cirrus Consulting

Blue Cirrus is a premier management consulting firm providing skilled advisors, technicians, clinicians and project leaders to support or help define and achieve client goals.

Blue Cirrus partners with you to find the solution you need to achieve the highest results. They are skilled in analysis, planning, support and optimization; specializing in telehealth, interim leadership, business planning and technical redesign. Their team averages over 25 years of healthcare experience and has serviced clients nationwide.

About Coker Group

Coker Group is a national healthcare advisory firm, working with hospitals and physician groups to develop customized solutions in five main service areas: Strategy, Operations, Finance, Technology, and Compliance.

Their mission is to customize an approach for each client that ensures strategic differentiation in the marketplace and the achievement of every goal across all performance areas. Through principled professional consulting, they assist healthcare providers in their pursuit of a sound business model and an enhanced patient experience.

Interested in Exhibiting? We still have a few spots left! Email April Noel at april@ctel.org for more information, and to reserve your digital booth today!

Arkansas Receives USDA Grant for Telehealth Training

• Thanks to a grant from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), healthcare providers in the Arkansas Delta will have access to much-needed telehealth training.
• The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) received nearly $1 million in grant money from USDA "to set up digital health training services at telehealth training centers around the region."
• Telehealth can lessen disparities in rural areas-but access to telehealth has no impact if patients won't use the technology.
• Educating providers and patients on telehealth and digital health practices might lessen these disparities.
• Providers and patients have access to training at the Arkansas Rural Health Partnership (ARHP) offices, the Jefferson Regional Medical Center School of Nursing, and the UAMS East Regional Campus.
• For the full story, read here.

Fitbit and US Army Partner for Early COVID-Detection Using mHealth Wearables

• The US Army Medical Research and Development Command (USAMRDC) has partnered with Fitbit "to prove the value of mHealth wearables in detecting COVID-19."
• USAMRDC gave Fitbit nearly $2.5 million to develop a connected care platform needed for the research.
• Employees at New York's Northwell Health system will be the first to receive Fitbits for the project.
• This is not the first effort by Fitbit to use mHealth wearables to detect early COVID signs.
• A May Fitbit study reported 70 percent accuracy in detecting COVID-19 one day before the onset of symptoms.
• Read the full story here.

Indiana Telehealth Pilot to Focus on Treating Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Through Primary Care Providers

• The Indiana University School of Medicine and Regenstrief Institute are partnering to study the effectiveness of the MI-CARE (More Individualized Care: Assessment and Recovery through Engagement) program.
• The $4 million pilot project "aims to determine whether primary care providers who use a telehealth platform can combine substance abuse treatment.and behavioral health treatment to improve health outcomes."
• The program targets the ongoing opioid epidemic and the increase in mental health issues coinciding with the pandemic.
• "The MI-CARE trial will evaluate telehealth''s value, coupled with collaborative care, in the fight against opioid use."
• For the full story, read here.

HHS Amends PREP Act to Include More Telehealth Flexibilities

• The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued another amendment to the Public Readiness and Preparedness (PREP) Act, expanding the connected health devices available for use during COVID.
• Under the new amendment, "healthcare providers [can] use telehealth in any state to administer.Covered Countermeasures."
• The PREP Act, enacted in 2005, allows HHS to issue immunity from liability for certain claims during a public health emergency (PHE).
• As a result, qualified healthcare personnel delivering Covered Countermeasures via telehealth to patients outside of their licensed state are protected as long as they comply with the telehealth regulations of their licensed state.
• This new amendment attempts to tackle the issue of license portability and interstate licensure-but only for the duration of the PHE.
• For the full story, read here and here.

CMS Extends Coverage of Telehealth for Diabetes Prevention Programs During COVID

• Providers using telehealth within their Diabetes Prevention Programs (DPP) will continue to receive reimbursement through Medicare under the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule.
• The coverage does not extend to virtual-only DPPs and ends for Medicare DPPs when the public health emergency (PHE) expires.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has received some backlash for failing to cover DPP telehealth long-term, which is why a bill was introduced in early Fall to make Medicare DPP telehealth permanent.
• Because the bill has not passed and CMS has not issued anything beyond the 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, DPPs will have to content themselves with telehealth reimbursement for the duration of the PHE.
• For the full story, read here.

Lawmakers Petition Congress for Permanent Telehealth Expansion After COVID

• A group of 49 lawmakers sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, and Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
• While COVID has expanded the use of telehealth, current provisions leave the future of telehealth uncertain, which makes providers hesitant to embrace all that telehealth offers.
• Headed by Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), the letter implores Congress to "extend the current level of telehealth access and coverage beyond the coronavirus pandemic."
• The letter also asks that Congress remove regional restrictions to telehealth access and allow people with Medicare to continue using telehealth within their homes.
• Among the lawmakers in support are Senators Elizabeth Warren (D - MA), Susan Collins (R - ME), and Lisa Murkowski (R - AK) and Representative David Cicilline (D - RI).
• Read the full story here.

FCC Awards Telehealth Grant to Medical Center in Maine

• MaineHealth is the most recent recipient of a Federal Communication Commission's grant.
• The FCC awarded the medical center over $800,000 to use for telehealth services throughout Maine and New Hampshire.
• MaineHealth plans to use the funds for "videoconferencing equipment" so patients can remain in their homes while consulting medical professionals.
• The grant is just one of the many authorized by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
• Read the full story here.

Michigan Governor Signs Telehealth Bills into Law

• Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed a package of telehealth bills into law.
• The bills were introduced January in the House, passed there in May, and received Senate approval a month later.
• The bills include similar language from the Governor's May emergency executive order, making permanent some COVID telehealth.
• HB 5412, HB 5413, and HB 5414 amend various portions of the state's code to include "store and forward online messaging" as an acceptable telemedicine service that no longer needs to occur during real time.
• HB 5415 adds remote patient monitoring services to Michigan's Social Welfare Act.
• HB 5416 allows schools and homes to be used as the originating sites for telehealth services, starting October.
• Read the full story here.

CMS Proposed Rule Change

• CMS proposed a new rule this past Thursday to make permanent some of the telehealth rules made during the public health emergency.
• Under the rule, Medicare home agencies can consider virtual care costs as administrative costs.
• Home health agencies will also be able to utilize services, such as remote patient care, as long as the it is a part of "a care plan, tied to a specific treatment goal, and related to the skilled services being provided."
• The rule does not allow telehealth to be used in place of a planned in-person visit or to be considered a home visit for patient eligibility or reimbursement purposes.
• Read the full story here.