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Top Telehealth News
Congress Extends Medicare Telehealth Flexibilities for 6 Months (Source: Healthcare Dive) The continuing resolution signed into law Saturday allows temporary changes to telehealth rules first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic to continue, such as allowing patients to receive telehealth care in their homes or expanding the types of providers who can offer virtual care. DEA and HHS Push Off New Telemedicine Prescribing Rules to End-of-Year (Source: Healthcare IT News) The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services will delay the effective date of two final rules that were expected to go into effect on Friday, March 21. By extending the Expansion of Buprenorphine Treatment via Telemedicine Encounter and Continuity of Care via Telemedicine for Veterans Affairs Patients final rules – first promulgated Jan. 17 – to Dec. 31, the agencies can spend more time considering comments they have received. Millions in US Live in Places Where Doctors Don’t Practice and Telehealth Doesn’t Reach (Source: KFF Health News) Green lights flickered on the wireless router in Barbara Williams’ kitchen. Just one bar lit up — a weak signal connecting her to the world beyond her home in the Alabama Black Belt. Next to the router sat medications, vitamin D pills, and Williams’ blood glucose monitor kit. “I haven’t used that thing in a month or so,” said Williams, 72, waving toward the kit. Diagnosed with diabetes more than six years ago, she has developed nerve pain from neuropathy in both legs. Demographic Disparities Persist in Video Visit Utilization (Source: TechTarget) Older adults and Black individuals were far more likely to experience video visit failures than their peers, according to recently published research. UC Davis Health researchers conducted the study to assess demographic disparities in synchronous telehealth video visits. They reviewed video visit telemetry data and EHR appointment information for scheduled video visits between Sept. 1, 2020, and Nov. 30, 2020.
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Recent TRC Resources
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| The Telehealth Policy Cliff: Preparing For October 1, 2025 (Created by NCTRC) |
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| The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) created a webpage titled The Telehealth Policy Cliff: Preparing for October 1, 2025, which addresses the impending changes to Medicare telehealth services should the key telehealth flexibilities expire on September 30th, 2025. It outlines key impacts, including the possible return of geographic and facility restrictions, loss of reimbursement for at-home telehealth visits, and limitations on services provided by FQHCs and RHCs. The page offers strategies for healthcare providers, policymakers, and stakeholders to prepare for these shifts and stay informed. To stay informed, this webpage will be updated regularly. |
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| Telehealth vs. Communication Technology-Based Services (CTBS): Implications for Medicare Reimbursement (Created by CCHP) |
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| The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) released a newsletter explaining the difference between telehealth services and Communication Technology-Based Services (CTBS) in Medicare reimbursement. Unlike traditional telehealth, CTBS codes cover remote services without in-person equivalents and are not subject to the same restrictions or waivers. This distinction may also impact reimbursement under state private payer laws. For more information, view the full newsletter. |
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| TeleBehavioral Health 501 Series (Created by NRTRC) |
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The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center (NRTRC), in collaboration with the University of Washington and the Behavioral Health Institute, is excited to announce that TeleBehavioral Health 501, their fifth webinar series, is now live! Discover innovative methods to enhance telebehavioral healthcare delivery while expanding your reach to individuals who are geographically dispersed or mobility challenged. Increase your knowledge of the latest technologies and best practices in telebehavioral health while gaining confidence in addressing ethical considerations specific to teletherapy. For more information, view the full series. |
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| Vendor Selection Toolkit (Created by MATRC) |
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The Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center (MATRC) has updated its Vendor Selection Toolkit. Telehealth - delivering care at a distance - relies on vendor solutions, from video visit software and remote monitoring devices to features embedded in EHR/EMR systems. Beyond technology vendors offering hardware and software, service vendors provide clinical care, staffing and legal support and consultation. Our expanded MATRC Vendor Selection Toolkit offers two paths to help you choose the right Technology Vendor (hardware, software) or Services Vendor. For more information, view the full toolkit. |
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| DEA’s Proposed Telemedicine Rule: What It May Mean for Prescribing Controlled Substances via Telehealth (Created by SWTRC) |
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The Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC) published a blog post analyzing the DEA’s proposed telemedicine rule, which outlines a new framework for prescribing controlled substances remotely. The proposal introduces a three-tiered registration system for practitioners and telemedicine platforms, requires state-specific telemedicine registrations, and enforces stricter recordkeeping and reporting requirements. For more information, view the full blog post. |
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| Telehealth Roundup: SCTRC Billing & Reimbursement Update (Created by SCTRC) |
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This insightful webinar, hosted by the South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC), guided attendees through the significant 2025 telehealth billing and coding changes. This session provided a detailed review of the newly released telehealth CPT codes from the AMA, along with an analysis of payor acceptance of these codes. We also covered the key updates in the 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule related to telehealth. With numerous important changes this year, this recording is an essential resource for staying current and compliant in the evolving telehealth landscape. For more information, view the full webinar. |
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| Navigating the Digital Health Legal Landscape: User Guide to State Data Privacy Laws (Created by SWTRC) |
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| The Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC) hosted a webinar examining the key developments to HIPAA affecting digital health operations and common trends in state data privacy legislation. This session provided a practical guide for navigating the complex web of laws that impact the use and disclosure of health information. Attendees gained a better understanding of how current and emerging state laws intersect with HIPAA, along with actionable insights for implementing compliance strategies when delivering virtual care services across multiple state jurisdictions. For more information, view the full webinar. |
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| Telehealth Talk - Teaching the Future of Care: Digital Health Curriculum at UTHSC (Created by SCTRC) |
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For more telehealth resources, view our resources page!
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Upcoming Telehealth Events
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| Telehealth Everywhere Conference |
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