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
While the decision to deploy telehealth services often becomes mired in concerns over reimbursement, quality and care continuity, one facet of remote care continues to gain traction — remote patient monitoring.
The Terre Haute-based Indiana Rural Health Association received a $1 million grant from HHS to support its services, Indiana Public Media reports.
American consumers are split on their willingness to use telemedicine services, according to a UnitedHealthcare report.
The Joint Commission, an independent, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations and programs, scrubbed its proposed telehealth requirements for hospitals, the commission confirmed with Becker's Hospital Review in an email statement Thursday.
Reston, Va.-based Avizia, which partners with providers to deploy and power systemwide telehealth solutions, acquired Seattle-based Carena, a virtual care provider, Oct. 10.
The Personal Connected Health Alliance welcomed 10 new company members to their organization Oct. 10.
The No. 1 barrier healthcare organizations cite as a hindrance to expanding their telehealth programs is reimbursement, according to a joint report out of KLAS Research and the College of Healthcare Information Management Executives.
Nashville, Tenn.-based Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt revealed plans to roll out a telemedicine program at four schools in Allen County, Kentucky, Oct. 6.
The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, an office of HHS' Health Resources and Services Administration, awarded the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center a $975,000 grant to fund its operations through August 2020.
An established telehealth program in Houston helped emergency services departments distribute ambulances in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, StateScoop reports.