Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Association of Hospital Telestroke Adoption With Changes in Initial Hospital Presentation and Transfers Among Patients With Stroke and Transient Ischemic Attacks
Results of a study to assess whether implementation of telestroke services is associated with changes in where and how patients present with stroke symptoms, their decision to be transferred to another hospital, and to which hospitals they are transferred. Uses data from 593 hospitals that adopted telestroke from 2009-2016. Features statistics on hospital characteristics by telestroke status, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Jessica V. Richard, Andrew Wilcock, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(9)
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
view details
Results of a study to assess whether implementation of telestroke services is associated with changes in where and how patients present with stroke symptoms, their decision to be transferred to another hospital, and to which hospitals they are transferred. Uses data from 593 hospitals that adopted telestroke from 2009-2016. Features statistics on hospital characteristics by telestroke status, with breakdowns by urban or rural location.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Jessica V. Richard, Andrew Wilcock, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(9)
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
view details
Opportunities Exist to Strengthen Evaluation and Oversight of Telehealth for Behavioral Health in Medicaid
Explores how 37 states evaluated and conducted oversight of telehealth for behavioral health services for Medicaid enrollees in January and February 2020. Discusses states' experiences with telehealth and the impacts of telehealth on access to care, as well as concerns regarding the impact of these services on cost and quality of care. Provides recommendations for states the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to meet the behavioral health needs of Medicaid enrollees and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Explores how 37 states evaluated and conducted oversight of telehealth for behavioral health services for Medicaid enrollees in January and February 2020. Discusses states' experiences with telehealth and the impacts of telehealth on access to care, as well as concerns regarding the impact of these services on cost and quality of care. Provides recommendations for states the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to meet the behavioral health needs of Medicaid enrollees and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
States Reported Multiple Challenges with Using Telehealth to Provide Behavioral Health Services to Medicaid Enrollees
Summarizes results of a January-February 2020 survey of State Medicaid Directors in 37 states that provide behavioral health services via telehealth through managed care organizations. Describes challenges with using telehealth to serve Medicaid enrollees, including provider and enrollee training, internet connectivity, privacy, and technology costs. Offers recommendations for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help states address these challenges.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Summarizes results of a January-February 2020 survey of State Medicaid Directors in 37 states that provide behavioral health services via telehealth through managed care organizations. Describes challenges with using telehealth to serve Medicaid enrollees, including provider and enrollee training, internet connectivity, privacy, and technology costs. Offers recommendations for the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to help states address these challenges.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
view details
Mental Health System Development in Rural and Remote Areas during COVID-19
Report highlights the barriers faced by rural, remote, and tribal communities to accessing mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details rates of mental health treatment over the past year and compares rural and urban communities. Discusses factors affecting access in rural areas such as workforce shortages, lack of telehealth services, and lack of culturally competent care for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, among others.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
view details
Report highlights the barriers faced by rural, remote, and tribal communities to accessing mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details rates of mental health treatment over the past year and compares rural and urban communities. Discusses factors affecting access in rural areas such as workforce shortages, lack of telehealth services, and lack of culturally competent care for American Indian and Alaska Native populations, among others.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
view details
Ready to Respond: Mental Health Beyond Crisis and COVID-19
Report highlights strategies for addressing the need for mental health services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Details seven recommendations for state mental health programs post-pandemic and discusses workforce challenges and how telehealth can be used to expand access to care to rural and underserved areas.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
view details
Report highlights strategies for addressing the need for mental health services in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Details seven recommendations for state mental health programs post-pandemic and discusses workforce challenges and how telehealth can be used to expand access to care to rural and underserved areas.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors
view details
MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2022
Comment on a July 23, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the expansion of telehealth service coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as reimbursement rates to Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers for telehealth mental health services.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Comment on a July 23, 2021, Federal Register proposed rule revising the physician fee schedule to improve payment systems for physicians and other Medicare Part B revisions. Includes a discussion of the expansion of telehealth service coverage after the COVID-19 public health emergency, as well as reimbursement rates to Rural Health Clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers for telehealth mental health services.
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
view details
Telephone Veteran Peer Coaching for Mental Health Treatment Engagement among Rural Veterans: The Importance of Secondary Outcomes and Qualitative Data in a Randomized Controlled Trial
Presents a study of telephone motivational coaching for veterans receiving primary care in rural VA clinics in Northern California and Louisiana. Compares 272 veterans who screened positive for mental health problems, examining impacts of veteran peer motivational coaching on depression, quality of life, posttraumatic stress disorder, and self-care. Discusses barriers to mental healthcare for rural veterans.
Author(s): Karen H. Seal, Jeffrey M. Pyne, Jennifer K. Manuel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(4), 788-800
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
view details
Presents a study of telephone motivational coaching for veterans receiving primary care in rural VA clinics in Northern California and Louisiana. Compares 272 veterans who screened positive for mental health problems, examining impacts of veteran peer motivational coaching on depression, quality of life, posttraumatic stress disorder, and self-care. Discusses barriers to mental healthcare for rural veterans.
Author(s): Karen H. Seal, Jeffrey M. Pyne, Jennifer K. Manuel, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(4), 788-800
Date: 09/2021
Type: Document
view details
Telehealth Visit Use Among U.S. Adults
Slide deck presenting survey data on telehealth use, breaking down results by rural/non-rural location, age, insurance coverage, and ethnicity. Addresses telehealth visit purposes, patient satisfaction, and barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Jazmyne Sutton
Date: 08/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organizations: Bipartisan Policy Center, SSRS
view details
Slide deck presenting survey data on telehealth use, breaking down results by rural/non-rural location, age, insurance coverage, and ethnicity. Addresses telehealth visit purposes, patient satisfaction, and barriers to telehealth access.
Author(s): Jazmyne Sutton
Date: 08/2021
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organizations: Bipartisan Policy Center, SSRS
view details
Paying for Telemedicine in Smaller Rural Hospitals: Extending the Technology to Those Who Benefit Most
Viewpoint article discussing the positive financial impacts of telemedicine in emergency departments (EDs) and barriers to using telemedicine in small rural hospitals related to patient volume, high upfront costs, and reimbursement issues. Outlines policy interventions to support rural telemedicine.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Jessica V. Richard, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(8), e211570
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
Viewpoint article discussing the positive financial impacts of telemedicine in emergency departments (EDs) and barriers to using telemedicine in small rural hospitals related to patient volume, high upfront costs, and reimbursement issues. Outlines policy interventions to support rural telemedicine.
Author(s): Kori S. Zachrison, Jessica V. Richard, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Health Forum, 2(8), e211570
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
Mobile Telemedicine for Buprenorphine Treatment in Rural Populations With Opioid Use Disorder
Results of a study conducted from June-October 2020 in Caroline County, Maryland, to evaluate the implementation of an initiative to extend access to telemedicine (TM) medications for opioid use disorder to rural communities, by bringing care via a TM mobile treatment unit (TM-MTU). Features demographics and statistics on opioid use during TM-MTU treatment.
Author(s): Eric Weintraub, Chamindi Seneviratne, Jessica Anane, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(8)
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details
Results of a study conducted from June-October 2020 in Caroline County, Maryland, to evaluate the implementation of an initiative to extend access to telemedicine (TM) medications for opioid use disorder to rural communities, by bringing care via a TM mobile treatment unit (TM-MTU). Features demographics and statistics on opioid use during TM-MTU treatment.
Author(s): Eric Weintraub, Chamindi Seneviratne, Jessica Anane, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 4(8)
Date: 08/2021
Type: Document
view details