Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Improving the Oral Health of Rural Veterans
Report explores rural veterans' access to oral healthcare. Compares the oral health of rural and urban veterans, highlights barriers to oral healthcare in rural areas, and makes recommendations for expanding access to oral healthcare.
Author(s): Annaliese Cothron, Hayam Megally, Don Clermont
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
view details
Report explores rural veterans' access to oral healthcare. Compares the oral health of rural and urban veterans, highlights barriers to oral healthcare in rural areas, and makes recommendations for expanding access to oral healthcare.
Author(s): Annaliese Cothron, Hayam Megally, Don Clermont
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
view details
State Medicaid Telehealth Policies Before and During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: 2022 Update
Examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Describes the types of Medicaid services that were allowed to be delivered by telehealth and the types of telehealth modality covered before the PHE, in May 2020, and in January 2022. Outlines the status of state Medicaid telehealth flexibilities based on state executive orders and Medicaid agency guidance. Builds on a July 2021 analysis of state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 PHE.
Author(s): Jacquelyn Rudich, Ann B. Conmy, Rose C. Chum, et al
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Examines state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE). Describes the types of Medicaid services that were allowed to be delivered by telehealth and the types of telehealth modality covered before the PHE, in May 2020, and in January 2022. Outlines the status of state Medicaid telehealth flexibilities based on state executive orders and Medicaid agency guidance. Builds on a July 2021 analysis of state Medicaid telehealth coverage, policies, and utilization before and after the COVID-19 PHE.
Author(s): Jacquelyn Rudich, Ann B. Conmy, Rose C. Chum, et al
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
view details
Bridging the Digital Divide: Advancing Telehealth Equity
Describes the rise in telehealth use in Massachusetts since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and disparities in use across populations. Summarizes the access, quality, and experience factors associated with telehealth from the perspective of patients, providers, and community leaders. Identifies barriers and factors that promoted telehealth use. Offers recommendations for health plans to advance telehealth equity by addressing the root causes of the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, removing structural and financial barriers to telehealth access, and supporting higher quality and more inclusive care delivery.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
view details
Describes the rise in telehealth use in Massachusetts since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and disparities in use across populations. Summarizes the access, quality, and experience factors associated with telehealth from the perspective of patients, providers, and community leaders. Identifies barriers and factors that promoted telehealth use. Offers recommendations for health plans to advance telehealth equity by addressing the root causes of the digital divide, promoting digital inclusion, removing structural and financial barriers to telehealth access, and supporting higher quality and more inclusive care delivery.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organizations: Department of Population Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Massachusetts Association of Health Plans, Massachusetts Health Quality Partners
view details
Virtual Communication Services in Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs)
Provides information for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) regarding billing and payment for virtual communication services as established in the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Provides information for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) regarding billing and payment for virtual communication services as established in the 2019 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule.
Date: 11/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
view details
Technical Report of The Maryland Telehealth Study
Presents the results of a study examining the quality and cost of telehealth following its expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as impact on access to healthcare, alignment with other models of care, and provider and patient satisfaction with a focus on policy impacts in Maryland. Includes findings of a literature review, consumer interviews, behavioral healthcare organization focus groups, and a provider survey.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organizations: NORC at the University of Chicago, The Maryland Health Care Commission
view details
Presents the results of a study examining the quality and cost of telehealth following its expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as impact on access to healthcare, alignment with other models of care, and provider and patient satisfaction with a focus on policy impacts in Maryland. Includes findings of a literature review, consumer interviews, behavioral healthcare organization focus groups, and a provider survey.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organizations: NORC at the University of Chicago, The Maryland Health Care Commission
view details
Teledentistry Trends in the United States During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Reviews the use of teledentistry during and following the COVID-19 pandemic in California, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and examines reimbursement issues and supports needed to enhance dental care in a post-COVID-19 world. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Miranda Werts, Prashanta Patel, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
view details
Reviews the use of teledentistry during and following the COVID-19 pandemic in California, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, and examines reimbursement issues and supports needed to enhance dental care in a post-COVID-19 world. Mentions rural throughout.
Author(s): Miranda Werts, Prashanta Patel, Elizabeth Mertz
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Oral Health Workforce Research Center
view details
Use of and Retention on Video, Telephone, and In-Person Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Examines modality of treatment delivery for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and how various modalities are associated with 90-day patient retention. Analyzes 17,182 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients who received buprenorphine for OUD treatment from March 2020 to March 2021 by video, telephone, in-person care, or a combination of the modalities. Includes data broken down by age, sex, race/ethnicity, VHA eligibility, housing status, substance use, mental health, comorbidities, and rurality, including urban, large rural, small/isolated rural, and unknown location.
Author(s): Madeline C. Frost, Lan Zhang, H. Myra Kim, Lewei (Allison) Lin
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(10), e2236298
Date: 10/2022
view details
Examines modality of treatment delivery for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) and how various modalities are associated with 90-day patient retention. Analyzes 17,182 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients who received buprenorphine for OUD treatment from March 2020 to March 2021 by video, telephone, in-person care, or a combination of the modalities. Includes data broken down by age, sex, race/ethnicity, VHA eligibility, housing status, substance use, mental health, comorbidities, and rurality, including urban, large rural, small/isolated rural, and unknown location.
Author(s): Madeline C. Frost, Lan Zhang, H. Myra Kim, Lewei (Allison) Lin
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 5(10), e2236298
Date: 10/2022
view details
Federal Policy & Telehealth: What to be Aware of Going Forward
Webinar describing the telehealth policy landscape following the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health emergency, highlighting federal policy issues as of October 2022. Describes policy flexibilities, Medicare telehealth during the pandemic, and research initiatives examining telehealth.
Additional links: Presentation Slide Deck
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
Webinar describing the telehealth policy landscape following the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated public health emergency, highlighting federal policy issues as of October 2022. Describes policy flexibilities, Medicare telehealth during the pandemic, and research initiatives examining telehealth.
Additional links: Presentation Slide Deck
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
view details
The Future of Telehealth After COVID-19: New Opportunities and Challenges
Provides an overview of the current evidence regarding telehealth's impact on equitable access to care and on quality of care, patient outcomes, and cost. Describes the COVID-19 pandemic-related regulatory flexibilities for mental health and substance use disorder services. Discusses the importance of telehealth on primary and specialty care during the public health emergency (PHE). Offers recommendations for Medicare telehealth policies to promote better outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries and value for the Medicare program.
Additional links: Medicare Telehealth Utilization and Spending Impacts 2019-2021, Webinar Recording
Author(s): Julia Harris, Sabah Bhatnagar, Brady Newell, et al.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Provides an overview of the current evidence regarding telehealth's impact on equitable access to care and on quality of care, patient outcomes, and cost. Describes the COVID-19 pandemic-related regulatory flexibilities for mental health and substance use disorder services. Discusses the importance of telehealth on primary and specialty care during the public health emergency (PHE). Offers recommendations for Medicare telehealth policies to promote better outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries and value for the Medicare program.
Additional links: Medicare Telehealth Utilization and Spending Impacts 2019-2021, Webinar Recording
Author(s): Julia Harris, Sabah Bhatnagar, Brady Newell, et al.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
view details
Delivery of Cancer Screening and Treatment in Critical Access Hospitals
Summarizes results of a survey of 135 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) regarding cancer screening and treatment provided by CAHs. Describes the role of visiting providers and the use of telemedicine in cancer screening and treatment.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Xiomara Santana, Helen Parsons, Nathan Bean, Ira Moscovice
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details
Summarizes results of a survey of 135 Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) regarding cancer screening and treatment provided by CAHs. Describes the role of visiting providers and the use of telemedicine in cancer screening and treatment.
Author(s): Megan Lahr, Xiomara Santana, Helen Parsons, Nathan Bean, Ira Moscovice
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Flex Monitoring Team
view details