Telehealth

Congress and CMS have introduced changes to rural health clinic and federally qualified health center requirements and payments to ensure patients have access to services they need during the pandemic.

Amwell has launched a telehealth services platform aimed at smaller physician practices. In a news release, company CEO Roy Schoenberg said the platform focuses on assisting community-based care when physician offices "are closed, or their on-site services are deeply limited." 

While CMS has relaxed telehealth regulations to expand care during the COVID-19 pandemic, the action may result in a spike in billing fraud, according to an April 22 Kaiser Health News report. 

The Federal Communications Commission approved its second wave of COVID-19 telehealth program applications, funneling $3.7 million to providers including NYU Langone Health and University of Michigan Hospital. 

As physicians maneuver the transition to virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic, they can still exhibit empathy toward their patients by adopting verbal and nonverbal habits.

Solutionreach, the leader in patient engagement and innovation in healthcare, announced the release of its SR Telehealth solution to help providers remain HIPAA-compliant while streamlining the process of virtual visits from scheduling through the encounter.

Cleveland Clinic released its COVID-19 Digital Health Playbook, including a guide for healthcare organizations to rapidly scale their telehealth offerings.

Dallas-based Medical City Healthcare has deployed more than 650 tech devices to expand telehealth visits across its network, conserve personal protective equipment and curb the spread of COVID-19.

The coronavirus response has boosted telehealth use considerably, and many investors are banking on telehealth as the way of the future.

The Federal Communications Commission approved six funding applications totaling more than $3 million to providers, including Mount Sinai Health System, UPMC and Ochsner Clinic Foundation, through its new COVID-19 telehealth program.