Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
The Evolving Landscape of National Telehealth Policies during a Public Health Emergency: Responsiveness to Rural Needs
Provides an overview of the telehealth policy landscape and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth utilization. Compares policy recommendations from the Bipartisan Policy Center's Rural Health Task Force to COVID-19-related policy changes. Includes considerations for additional telehealth policy changes.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Hannah Rochford, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Provides an overview of the telehealth policy landscape and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on telehealth utilization. Compares policy recommendations from the Bipartisan Policy Center's Rural Health Task Force to COVID-19-related policy changes. Includes considerations for additional telehealth policy changes.
Author(s): Keith J. Mueller, Hannah Rochford, Andrew F. Coburn, et al.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Telebehavioral Health: An Effective Alternative to In-Person Care
Issue brief discussing telehealth treatment modalities based on a 2019 review of clinical outcomes related to telebehavioral health. Covers three state-level approaches: the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center Rural Telemental Health Program (VA RTMH), which serves rural Oregon veterans, and Medicaid policies in Texas and Massachusetts. Addresses telebehavioral health policy details, implementation, and considerations for states looking to develop new telebehavioral health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Lily Sobolik, Valerie King
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Issue brief discussing telehealth treatment modalities based on a 2019 review of clinical outcomes related to telebehavioral health. Covers three state-level approaches: the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center Rural Telemental Health Program (VA RTMH), which serves rural Oregon veterans, and Medicaid policies in Texas and Massachusetts. Addresses telebehavioral health policy details, implementation, and considerations for states looking to develop new telebehavioral health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Lily Sobolik, Valerie King
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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The Impact of Coronavirus on Households in Rural America
Reports on the experiences of rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses impacts on finances, employment, healthcare, housing, food, and child care. Concerns related to healthcare include access to care during the pandemic, concerns for those with special health issues such as chronic conditions, and use of telehealth.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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Reports on the experiences of rural households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses impacts on finances, employment, healthcare, housing, food, and child care. Concerns related to healthcare include access to care during the pandemic, concerns for those with special health issues such as chronic conditions, and use of telehealth.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, National Public Radio, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
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MedPAC Comment on CMS's Proposed Rule on the Physician Fee Schedule and Other Revisions to Part B for CY 2021
Comment on an August 17, 2020 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 COVID-19-related telehealth expansion.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Comment on an August 17, 2020 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 COVID-19-related telehealth expansion.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Federal Health IT Strategic Plan, 2020-2025
Outlines federal goals, plans, and priorities as they relate to health information technology (HIT) and its application across the U.S. Discusses federal efforts to improve broadband access and HIT infrastructure in all areas, including rural and tribal areas.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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Outlines federal goals, plans, and priorities as they relate to health information technology (HIT) and its application across the U.S. Discusses federal efforts to improve broadband access and HIT infrastructure in all areas, including rural and tribal areas.
Date: 10/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology
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September 2020 MedPAC Meeting Transcript
Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2020 meeting. Covers the coronavirus pandemic and Medicare, the context for Medicare payment policy, a mandated report on the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, a mandated report on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014's changes to the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule, and a Congressional request on private equity and Medicare. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Transcript from the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's (MedPAC) September 2020 meeting. Covers the coronavirus pandemic and Medicare, the context for Medicare payment policy, a mandated report on the skilled nursing facility value-based purchasing program, a mandated report on the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014's changes to the Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedule, and a Congressional request on private equity and Medicare. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
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Cibola General Hospital Pushes Forward
Describes Cibola General Hospital's (CGH) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project. CGH is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Grants, New Mexico. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CGH, including the development of telehealth services.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Describes Cibola General Hospital's (CGH) progress as part of the Small Rural Hospital Transition (SRHT) Project. CGH is a 25-bed Critical Access Hospital located in Grants, New Mexico. Discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CGH, including the development of telehealth services.
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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Telepsychiatric Consultation as a Training and Workforce Development Strategy for Rural Primary Care
Study examining the impacts of telepsychiatric consultations on the capacity for clinical and non-clinical staff to recognize and treat psychiatric disorders. Draws from interviews with 17 staff members at 3 rural primary care facilities in Washington. Discusses implications of telepsychiatric consultation for primary care and behavioral health integration models.
Author(s): Morhaf Al Achkar, Ian M. Bennet, Lydia Chwastiak, et al.
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 18(5), 438-445
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Study examining the impacts of telepsychiatric consultations on the capacity for clinical and non-clinical staff to recognize and treat psychiatric disorders. Draws from interviews with 17 staff members at 3 rural primary care facilities in Washington. Discusses implications of telepsychiatric consultation for primary care and behavioral health integration models.
Author(s): Morhaf Al Achkar, Ian M. Bennet, Lydia Chwastiak, et al.
Citation: Annals of Family Medicine, 18(5), 438-445
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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RHC Cost Reporting During COVID
Recording of a September 22, 2020, webinar covering cost reporting basics for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including telehealth reporting, FTE and visit calculations, productivity waiver requests, provider relief fund payments, and cost report filing deadlines. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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Recording of a September 22, 2020, webinar covering cost reporting basics for Rural Health Clinics (RHCs), including telehealth reporting, FTE and visit calculations, productivity waiver requests, provider relief fund payments, and cost report filing deadlines. Part of the Rural Health Clinic Technical Assistance Series.
Additional links: Presentation Slides, Transcript
Date: 09/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: National Association of Rural Health Clinics
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VA Video Connect for Clinical Care in Older Adults in a Rural State During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-Sectional Study
Highlights a study on the ability of older veterans to use the VA Video Connect (VVC) app for telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaks down data by race, age, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): Kalpana P Padala, Kerrie B Wilson, Heath Gauss, Jessica D Stovall, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(9), e21561
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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Highlights a study on the ability of older veterans to use the VA Video Connect (VVC) app for telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaks down data by race, age, and rural versus urban location, among other factors.
Author(s): Kalpana P Padala, Kerrie B Wilson, Heath Gauss, Jessica D Stovall, et al.
Citation: Journal of Medical Internet Research, 22(9), e21561
Date: 09/2020
Type: Document
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