As we step into 2025, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead for telehealth and its continued growth. At NCTRC, our commitment remains steadfast: providing you with the most up-to-date resources, training, and technical assistance to support your telehealth initiatives.
Did you know that several Telehealth Resource Centers (TRCs) offer their own monthly or quarterly newsletters and announcements? These communications contain vital region-specific updates and information to help you stay informed about developments in your area.
To make it easy for you to connect with these regional resources, we’ve included sign-up links below. Simply click on the links to join their individual distribution lists and receive updates directly from your local TRC:
There are also two national TRCs - the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) and the Telehealth Technology Assessment Resource Center (TTAC) which focus on telehealth policy and telehealth technology, respectively. CCHP offers a weekly newsletter packed with the latest telehealth policy news and updates. To stay informed on key policy changes and news, sign up for their newsletter here at the bottom of the web page: SIGN UP HERE >
We’re here to support you every step of the way in navigating telehealth this year and beyond. Thank you for being part of the telehealth community! |
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Top Telehealth News
DEA Proposes Long-Awaited Rule for Telehealth Controlled Substance Prescriptions (Source: Healthcare Dive) The Drug Enforcement Administration released a long-awaited regulation on Wednesday that would create a process for prescribing controlled substances via telehealth, just days before President Joe Biden’s term ends. The proposed rule would create special registrations authorizing providers and telehealth companies to prescribe Schedule II to V drugs, like Adderall or Xanax, without first conducting an in-person evaluation. Congress Extends More Telehealth Care Just Before the 2024 Holidays (Source: Penn LDI) After surging during the pandemic, many existing telehealth rules were set to expire on December 31, 2024, potentially leaving thousands of people with less access to needed care. But the Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration announced a one-year extension of some rules on November 15, 2024. This includes current prescribing rules for controlled substances via telehealth, without an initial in-person visit. US Telehealth Use Increases Month Over Month, Except in Midwest (Source: McKnights Senior Living) Every region in the US showed increased telehealth use in October, except for the Midwest, where use dropped, according to the latest figures from FAIR Health’s Monthly Telehealth Regional Tracker, released Wednesday. Previous data from September showed that fewer Americans overall were using telehealth services. At that time, the decrease was most significant in the West, where use dropped by 5.4%; in the South and Northeast, the decrease was 1.5%, and in the Midwest, it was 2.8%. Older Adults' Digital Health Use Varies by Race, Other Factors (Source: TechTarget) Though older adults in the United States use multiple types of digital health technologies (DHTs), race, sex, age and other demographic factors influence utilization, according to new research. As digital health tools are increasingly deployed to support various healthcare industry goals, including value-based care, healthcare stakeholders must be wary of digital determinants of health that could curb the adoption and use of these technologies.
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Recent TRC Resources
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| Telehealth Access Points Best Practices Guide (Created by NCTRC) |
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| The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) developed a new Telehealth Access Points (TAPs) Best Practices Guide. This guide outlines how to create public spaces where individuals can access telehealth appointments. It details necessary equipment, sanitization protocols, scheduling options, and emphasizes the role of digital navigators in supporting users with digital skills and healthcare access. It highlights the importance of community partnerships to overcome barriers like digital literacy and infrastructure, and explores TAP models in locations such as libraries, banks, and kiosks. For more information, view the full guide. |
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| Federal Telehealth Policy in 2025 Webinar (Created by CCHP) |
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| The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) recently hosted a Federal Telehealth Policy in 2025 webinar. CCHP's Executive Director, Mei Kwong, examined recent actions Congress has (or has not) taken in regards to the federal waivers on Medicare telehealth policies, what has changed, what is continuing, or not. For more information, view the webinar recording or powerpoint. |
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| Telehealth Roundup: Utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Cardiovascular Medicine (Created by SCTRC) |
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| Northwest Regional Telehealth Survey Results (Created by NRTRC) |
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2024 Survey Results Are In! The wait is over! The 2024 Northwest Regional Telehealth Survey results have been compiled and are ready for you to take a deep dive into the data. We invite you to share your insights and ideas about these results by emailing us at info@nrtrc.org.
Historical data from our 2020-2023 survey results can be found here. |
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For more telehealth resources, view our resources page!
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Upcoming Telehealth Events
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| SEARCH 2025 – National Telehealth Research Symposium |
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SEARCH 2025 – The National Telehealth Research Symposium will showcase connected health efforts, strategies, and partnerships, specifically those that focus on the research of telemedicine, telehealth, eHealth, mHealth, and other healthcare technologies. SEARCH 2025 – The National Telehealth Research Symposium will be held on February 2-3, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
REGISTER HERE > |
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| Telehealth Everywhere Conference |
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This conference is for anyone involved in telehealth! It focuses primarily on operational aspects of telehealth, including policy, billing, reimbursement, workflows, performance evaluation, best practices, training, technology optimization, and quality measurement. Whether or not you find exactly what you are looking for, you will definitely find friendly, knowledgeable, and helpful people working to advance telehealth in a variety of settings. There is always something for everyone! The conference will take place on April 22 – 23, 2025 in Bloomington, Minnesota.
REGISTER HERE > |
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| American Telemedicine Association Nexus 2025 |
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Nexus 2025 will convene leading healthcare delivery organizations and the solution providers that support them, government agencies, payors, and other stakeholders to share critical insights and build action plans that enable virtual care as an indispensable care modality and permanent part of healthcare delivery. Nexus 2025 is where the future of healthcare is being built.
We’re bringing the future of telehealth to the Crescent City. Join the chant, be part of the innovation, and let’s march toward the next era of healthcare together! The conference will take place in New Orleans, LA from May 3 – 6, 2025.
REGISTER HERE > |
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For more TRC events, view our events page!
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