Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Telehealth and Health Information Technology in Rural Healthcare.
Final Rule for CY 2024 Physician Fee Schedule: Fact Sheet
Fact sheet covering Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2024 as outlined in the final calendar year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule. Covers eligible services that can be delivered by telehealth, remote monitoring services, physician supervision, diabetes self-management training (DSMT), and more.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Fact sheet covering Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) telehealth policy changes for 2024 as outlined in the final calendar year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule. Covers eligible services that can be delivered by telehealth, remote monitoring services, physician supervision, diabetes self-management training (DSMT), and more.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Ensuring Medicare Beneficiary Access: A Path to Telehealth Permanency
Recording of a November 14, 2023, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Health Care hearing on the role of telehealth in improving access to care and the potential to make COVID-19 Medicare flexibilities permanent. Features testimony from Nicki Perisho, Principal Investigator and Program Director for the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center, and Eric Wallace, Medical Director for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System Telehealth Program.
Additional links: Eric Wallace, UAB Health System Telehealth Program - Testimony, Nicki Perisho, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center - Testimony
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Health Care
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Recording of a November 14, 2023, U.S. Senate Committee on Finance Subcommittee on Health Care hearing on the role of telehealth in improving access to care and the potential to make COVID-19 Medicare flexibilities permanent. Features testimony from Nicki Perisho, Principal Investigator and Program Director for the Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center, and Eric Wallace, Medical Director for the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Health System Telehealth Program.
Additional links: Eric Wallace, UAB Health System Telehealth Program - Testimony, Nicki Perisho, Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center - Testimony
Date: 11/2023
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Senate Committee on Finance, Subcommittee on Health Care
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Calendar Year (CY) 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions related to paying separately for Community Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment, and Principal Illness Navigation services; telehealth services; mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); including marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as eligible for payment at RHCs and FQHCs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2024. Summarizes provisions related to paying separately for Community Health Integration, Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) Risk Assessment, and Principal Illness Navigation services; telehealth services; mental health visits furnished by Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs); including marriage and family therapists and mental health counselors as eligible for payment at RHCs and FQHCs; and more.
Date: 11/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Health Information Workforce: Survey Results on Workforce Challenges and the Role of Emerging Technologies
Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Presents results of an August 2023 survey of health information professionals on workforce challenges and the impact of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on the health information workforce. Describes challenges for recruiting and retaining health information professionals, factors that influence turnover, and the impacts of understaffing on healthcare quality and reimbursement. Discusses the future outlook for the health information profession and offers policy recommendations to enhance workforce development. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: American Health Information Management Association, NORC at the University of Chicago
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Data Element Identification and Data Collection Procedures for the HRSA Direct-to-Consumer Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program
Provides an overview of the development of a common set of data elements to evaluate the Office of the Advancement of Teleheath's Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program, which aims to build an evidence base for telehealth in rural settings. Outlines 27 patient-level, encounter-level, and outcome data elements on patients who receive direct-to-consumer telehealth services and a comparable group of patients who receive in-person services. Describes data collection and management procedures.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Kimberly Merchant, Fred Ullrich, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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Provides an overview of the development of a common set of data elements to evaluate the Office of the Advancement of Teleheath's Evidence Based Telehealth Network Program, which aims to build an evidence base for telehealth in rural settings. Outlines 27 patient-level, encounter-level, and outcome data elements on patients who receive direct-to-consumer telehealth services and a comparable group of patients who receive in-person services. Describes data collection and management procedures.
Author(s): Marcia M. Ward, Kimberly Merchant, Fred Ullrich, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Telehealth Research Center
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State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies Report, Fall 2023
Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2023. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Provides an overview of state telehealth policies as of early September 2023. Covers Medicaid reimbursement, private payer laws, and professional requirements.
Additional links: Executive Summary, Infographic, State Summary Chart
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Telehealth Use and Availability in VHA Outpatient Mental Health Care
Report discusses the use and availability of telehealth for outpatient mental healthcare within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Explores telehealth use and availability in rural areas, highlights barriers to both, and discusses how the VHA can adapt.
Author(s): PhiYen Nguyen, Izabela Sadej, Elsa Pearson Sites, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Partnered Evidence-based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Report discusses the use and availability of telehealth for outpatient mental healthcare within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Explores telehealth use and availability in rural areas, highlights barriers to both, and discusses how the VHA can adapt.
Author(s): PhiYen Nguyen, Izabela Sadej, Elsa Pearson Sites, et al.
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Partnered Evidence-based Policy Resource Center (PEPReC), U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Recovering from a Cybersecurity Attack and Protecting the Future in Small, Rural Health Organizations
Discusses the impact cyber-attacks can have on rural healthcare facilities. Features two Critical Access Hospital leaders describing attacks at their organizations. Shares insights from an information technology compliance expert, including actions organizations can take to protect themselves.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses the impact cyber-attacks can have on rural healthcare facilities. Features two Critical Access Hospital leaders describing attacks at their organizations. Shares insights from an information technology compliance expert, including actions organizations can take to protect themselves.
Author(s): Tami Lichtenberg
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 10/2023
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Rural Patient and Provider Perceptions of Telehealth Implemented During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Evaluates patient and provider perceptions of telehealth in a large, rural healthcare system as well as the sustainability of telehealth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2020-2021 survey data to analyze patient satisfaction with telehealth and its perceived value and efficiency according to providers. Considers the long-term effectiveness of telehealth by assessing differences in missed appointments when compared to in-person visits at a family practice clinic.
Author(s): David Klee, Derek Pyne, Joshua Kroll, William James, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 23, 981
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Evaluates patient and provider perceptions of telehealth in a large, rural healthcare system as well as the sustainability of telehealth during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizes 2020-2021 survey data to analyze patient satisfaction with telehealth and its perceived value and efficiency according to providers. Considers the long-term effectiveness of telehealth by assessing differences in missed appointments when compared to in-person visits at a family practice clinic.
Author(s): David Klee, Derek Pyne, Joshua Kroll, William James, Kelly A. Hirko
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 23, 981
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Characteristics of Short-Term Acute Care Hospitals That Experienced a Ransomware Attack from 2016 to 2021
Analyzed short-term acute care hospitals experiencing a ransomware attack between 2016 and 2019 to identify characteristics associated with an attack. Considered variables such as rurality, various financial characteristics, information technology infrastructure, and more. Includes recommendation for future research regarding rural impacts.
Author(s): Claire C. McGlave, Sayeh S. Nikpay, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katie Rydberg, Hannah T. Neprash
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(3)
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Analyzed short-term acute care hospitals experiencing a ransomware attack between 2016 and 2019 to identify characteristics associated with an attack. Considered variables such as rurality, various financial characteristics, information technology infrastructure, and more. Includes recommendation for future research regarding rural impacts.
Author(s): Claire C. McGlave, Sayeh S. Nikpay, Carrie Henning-Smith, Katie Rydberg, Hannah T. Neprash
Citation: Health Affairs Scholar, 1(3)
Date: 09/2023
Type: Document
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Last Updated: 11/20/2023