Telehealth

Several hospitals and health systems, including Spectrum Health, Indiana University Health and MUSC Health, are now offering virtual COVID-19 screenings at no charge for those with symptoms of the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

To help meet the demands of possible novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreaks in local communities across the nation, Bright.md is offering a free COVID-19 evaluation, screening and escalation tool to all hospitals in the U.S.

The American Telemedicine Association commended Congress on March 5 for passing an $8.3 billion emergency funding package, which includes a provision to waive telehealth restrictions for Medicare beneficiaries, to combat the U.S. COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 6, President Donald Trump signed an emergency funding bill in response to the coronavirus outbreak, which includes $500 million in waivers for Medicare telehealth restrictions, according to The Hill.

Hospitals and health systems across the country are asking patients to pick up the phone rather than sit a waiting room if they have fears they might be infected with the coronavirus, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Amazon may expand its virtual clinic services to employees working at its second headquarters in Arlington, Va., according to a March 4 Washington Business Journal report.

Charleston, S.C.-based MUSC Health is rolling out telemedicine intensive care unit services at its Lancaster (S.C.) Medical Center, according to a news release emailed to Becker's Hospital Review.

Peter Rasmussen, MD, is among the champions of virtual care. Over the past six years, he has lost count of the number of patients he has treated in virtual settings. 

The Alliance for Connected Care and American Telemedicine Association are among a group of virtual care advocates urging CMS to waive telehealth restrictions during national emergencies such as the coronavirus outbreak, according to Politco's Feb. 28 Morning eHealth newsletter.

UC Davis Health began a telemedicine partnership this month with Adventist Health + Rideout, offering neonatology care to patients at the Roseville, Calif.-based health system via virtual consultation, according to a news release.