Telemedicine and Stroke Care

Angie SzumlinskiStudies

“Telemedicine can have a significant impact on acute stroke care by enabling timely intervention in an ambulance before a patient reaches the hospital. However, limited research has been conducted on understanding and supporting team communication during the care delivery process for telemedicine-enabled stroke care in an ambulance,” according to the National Library of Medicine. That said, a study was conducted …

Telehealth and CONNECT for Health Act

Angie SzumlinskiNews

“Questions about the future of telehealth regulations have endured ever since the federal government opted to relax some of them during the COVID-19 pandemic. “The telehealth cliff is looming, casting much uncertainty and concern for the health and safety of Medicare beneficiaries, and the sustainability of our already overburdened healthcare system”, said Ann Mond Johnson, CEO of the American Telemedicine …

CMS Possible Reimbursement Changes – Telehealth

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, Studies

During the COVID-19 pandemic, visit volume at a sample of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) declined modestly for primary care visits and remained stable for behavioral health visits because telehealth visits (particularly by telephone) replaced in-person visits. Few studies have differentiated between telehealth modalities. However, CMS estimated that 30% of telehealth visits were audio-only during the pandemic. Estimates reported may …

Saving Lives – Electronically

Angie SzumlinskiFeatured, Health

The Advance Alert Monitor is a sophisticated system that analyzes electronic data about hospital patients, identifies those at risk of deteriorating, and issues an alert to a centralized team of specially trained nurses resulted in a lower mortality rate, Kaiser Permanente Researchers found. The evaluation of the Advance Alert Monitor, or AAM, used in 21 Kaiser Permanente Northern California hospitals …

Outdoor Virtual Visits – Stop and Think!

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, News

In a recent article published in Medscape Nurse, Dr. Gregory A. Hood described an interesting event that occurred during a “telehealth” visit. The patient’s wife was setting up the visit in the backyard of their rural, mountainous home when she encountered a Copperhead snake and was subsequently bitten. The story had a happy ending, however, it did make me pause …

Trump Administration Drives Telehealth Services in Medicaid and Medicare

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, Health

MLN Connects Thursday, October 15, 2020 On October 14, CMS expanded the list of telehealth services that Medicare Fee-for-Service will pay for during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). CMS is also providing additional support to state Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) agencies in their efforts to expand access to telehealth. The actions reinforce President Trump’s Executive Order …

CMS – Telehealth Update – August 4, 2020

Angie SzumlinskiAnnouncements, News

CMS is proposing changes to expand telehealth permanently, consistent with the Executive Order on Improving Rural and Telehealth Access that President Trump signed. The Executive Order and proposed rule advance our efforts to improve access and convenience of care for Medicare beneficiaries, particularly those living in rural areas. Additionally, the proposed rule implements a multi-year effort to reduce clinician burden …

Senior woman consults a e-health doctor with tablet

Telehealth and 1135 Waiver

Angie SzumlinskiNews

Telehealth now more than ever is an important tool in your toolkit! CMS has released a video providing answers to common questions about the Medicare telehealth services benefit. Since CMS has expanded this benefit temporarily on an emergency basis under the 1135 waiver authority and Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act there are tons of questions. Click the link …

Telehealth – Finally!

Angie SzumlinskiHealth, News

During this public health emergency there has been an urgency to expand telehealth/telemedicine to help people receive a wider range of services from their doctors without going to a healthcare facility. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, telehealth was only covered under Medicare/Medicaid for rural providers and existing patients. In order to reduce person-to-person contact with our most vulnerable population, and …