Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Telehealth
Public Law 116-136: Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act
Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Text of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, Public Law 116-136 (March 27, 2020). Outlines telehealth flexibilities to support providers and enhance access to care during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Among other things, the CARES Act allows Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) to serve as distant sites to provide telehealth services to patients in their homes during the public health emergency (PHE); establishes the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP); extends the ability to order home health services to physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and certified nurse specialists; and provides additional funding to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to enable the provision of telehealth services.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Congress
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Fast-Track to Teledentistry - Removing Barriers to Care While Maximizing Overall Health
Details the barriers to oral healthcare access and discusses the ways teledentistry can help overcome them. Highlights the role teledentistry can play during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and in rural communities. Presents examples of successful uses of teledentistry and provides guidance for teledentistry implementation.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Details the barriers to oral healthcare access and discusses the ways teledentistry can help overcome them. Highlights the role teledentistry can play during public health emergencies, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and in rural communities. Presents examples of successful uses of teledentistry and provides guidance for teledentistry implementation.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: CareQuest Institute for Oral Health
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Identifying Measures and Data Elements for the HRSA Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program
Research brief identifying the standardized set of measures used for data collection by the Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program grantees. Explores ways in which emergency department-based telehealth services can be used in rural hospital emergency departments.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, et al.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Research brief identifying the standardized set of measures used for data collection by the Evidence-Based Tele-Emergency Network Grant Program grantees. Explores ways in which emergency department-based telehealth services can be used in rural hospital emergency departments.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Fred Ullrich, Kimberly A.S. Merchant, et al.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Issue Brief: Creating a High-value Telehealth Strategy
Explores how hospitals can use telehealth services to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. Discusses approaches to deliver telehealth services and provides guidelines to consider when developing a telehealth strategy. Provides examples of how rural hospitals are using telehealth services to meet community needs.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Explores how hospitals can use telehealth services to improve patient outcomes and reduce costs. Discusses approaches to deliver telehealth services and provides guidelines to consider when developing a telehealth strategy. Provides examples of how rural hospitals are using telehealth services to meet community needs.
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Hospital Association
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Coverage and Utilization of Telemedicine Services by Enrollees in Large Employer Plans
Reports on the offering and uptake of telemedicine services by large employer health plans. Includes data on access to telehealth for rural and urban large employer health plan enrollees.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Cynthia Cox, Gary Claxton
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Reports on the offering and uptake of telemedicine services by large employer health plans. Includes data on access to telehealth for rural and urban large employer health plan enrollees.
Author(s): Matthew Rae, Cynthia Cox, Gary Claxton
Date: 03/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Digital Prosperity: How Broadband Can Deliver Health and Equity to All Communities
Examines the role broadband plays in impacting health and equity in rural and urban areas, and identifies policy reforms to reduce these barriers. Outlines how government and marketplaces influence access to broadband, and offers case studies demonstrating effective methods to develop more equitable outcomes.
Author(s): Adie Tomer, Lara Fishbane, Angela Siefer, Bill Callahan
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Brookings Institution
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Examines the role broadband plays in impacting health and equity in rural and urban areas, and identifies policy reforms to reduce these barriers. Outlines how government and marketplaces influence access to broadband, and offers case studies demonstrating effective methods to develop more equitable outcomes.
Author(s): Adie Tomer, Lara Fishbane, Angela Siefer, Bill Callahan
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: Brookings Institution
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Underserved Communities: Enhancing Care with Graduate Medical Education
Provides an overview of the current supply of rheumatology healthcare providers in rural America and future projected workforce shortages. Discusses strategies to improve access to care and address rheumatology workforce shortages such as increasing residency and fellowship positions in Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), telemedicine, the J-1 visa waiver program, and the National Health Service Corps.
Author(s): Vaneet Kaur Sandhu, Donna Jose, Candace H Feldman
Citation: Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America, 46(1), 167-178
Date: 02/2020
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Provides an overview of the current supply of rheumatology healthcare providers in rural America and future projected workforce shortages. Discusses strategies to improve access to care and address rheumatology workforce shortages such as increasing residency and fellowship positions in Medically Underserved Areas (MUAs), telemedicine, the J-1 visa waiver program, and the National Health Service Corps.
Author(s): Vaneet Kaur Sandhu, Donna Jose, Candace H Feldman
Citation: Rheumatic Diseases Clinics of North America, 46(1), 167-178
Date: 02/2020
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Recruiting and Retaining Behavioral Health Workers in Rural America: A Toolkit for Action
Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Explores successful tactics and programs, and elements missing from many current efforts to recruit and retain behavioral health workers. Describes funding opportunities, pipeline programs, telehealth initiatives, innovative approaches to recruitment and retention, and legislative changes in 2019 that helped promote recruitment and retention.
Author(s): Nancy Baum, Jaque King
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Health and Research Transformation, University of Michigan Behavioral Health Workforce Research Center
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Healthcare from Anywhere: Telehealth Use and Perceptions in Rural Michigan
Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Examines the current state of telehealth services in rural Michigan. Discusses state and local policies related to access to telehealth services, perceptions of telehealth services, and how these services are used by physicians. Identifies barriers rural Michigan healthcare providers and residents face in utilizing telehealth services. Presents recommendations that would increase access to telehealth services for rural Michigan residents. Includes an overview of the telehealth policy environment of all 50 states, with a focus on states with moderate or progressive telehealth policy environments.
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organizations: AARP, Connected Nation, Michigan Health Endowment
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Telemedicine and Pregnancy Care
Explores the role telemedicine can play in providing prenatal and postpartum care to women in rural areas. Highlights the types of specialized care that can be delivered via telemedicine to support maternal care in rural areas. Discusses some of the barriers to telemedicine implementation, including state-level Medicaid reimbursement policy.
Author(s): Gabriela Weigel, Brittni Frederiksen, Usha Ranji
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Explores the role telemedicine can play in providing prenatal and postpartum care to women in rural areas. Highlights the types of specialized care that can be delivered via telemedicine to support maternal care in rural areas. Discusses some of the barriers to telemedicine implementation, including state-level Medicaid reimbursement policy.
Author(s): Gabriela Weigel, Brittni Frederiksen, Usha Ranji
Date: 02/2020
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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