Virtual care news, trends and reimbursement updates
Telehealth news covering program growth, utilization and payment. Becker's tracks telehealth reimbursement policy at the federal and state level and how virtual care fits into health system strategy.
Telehealth
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, a U.S. Department of Defense agency tasked with developing emerging technologies for the military, awarded Kryptowire a $5.1 million contract to manage smartphone sensor data as part of its health monitoring program.
Avizia, a company focused on deploying telehealth services systemwide, and Aligned Telehealth, an onsite and telehealth behavioral healthcare services provider, entered into a partnership.
NYC Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services and NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst teamed up in February to debut a telehealth program for female patients at the Rikers Island (N.Y.) prison.
A report from HHS' Office of Inspector General found nearly 31 percent of claims submitted between 2014 and 2015 did not meet the Medicare conditions for payment for telehealth services, which resulted in $3.7 million in excess payments.
Staff Sgt. John Girtman is deployed overseas with the U.S. Air Force, but was still able to see his newborn son at Orem, Utah-based Timpanogos Regional Hospital thanks to webcams in the NICU bay, according to ABC News.
Planned Parenthood's remote sex education program, called Chat/Text, hosted its 1 millionth conversation earlier this month.
Two telemedicine-related provisions were included in the proposed "Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018," a draft bill sponsored by Sens. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., according to JD Supra.
Online therapy provider Talkspace tapped a former UnitedHealth Group medical executive and an Optum vice president to join the startup.
Press Ganey launched a new service for its providers as a way to enhance patients' telemedicine experience.
Digital health technology targeted toward women, also known as "femtech," is poised to be the next disruptor in the global healthcare market, according to a Frost & Sullivan report.