Telehealth

Also known as telemedicine, this area of care helps connect doctors and patients remotely, without requiring in-person visits. This virtual care strategy is beneficial for managing chronic conditions, delivering lab test or diagnostic imaging results, post-surgical follow-ups, assessing skin conditions, online counseling and many other healthcare services. It also can improve care, care access and outcomes for patients.

Medicare telehealth reimbursement returns to pre-COVID framework

Without a formal extension before the government shutdown, the flexible telemedicine reimbursement policies introduced in 2020 that removed regional barriers for Medicare patients have officially ended.

MGMA's Anders Gilberg says Congress needs to act soon to preserve access to telemedicine programs.

MGMA: Congress needs to act soon to preserve access to telemedicine programs

Congress needs to act soon to extend telemedicine services that were greatly expanded under COVID provisions, or they will expire by October. Anders Gilberg, senior vice president of government affairs at the Medical Group Management Association, explains concerns raised by doctors and lawmakers.

 

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Mayo Clinic announces cuts and closures, citing healthcare staffing woes

Many Mayo Clinic patients in rural Minnesota may need to travel or rely on telehealth, as six locations are closing for good before the end of the year. 

abortion law ban pregnancy dobbs

Abortion-access nonprofit sued for wrongful death after alleged dosing incident

A woman in Texas alleges a U.S. Marine slipped abortion pills into her hot chocolate, resulting in the death of her fetus. She is suing the man, along with Aid Access—a nonprofit that provides nationwide access to abortion pills via telehealth.

AI and telehealth telemedicine

AI elevates telemedicine and protects its data too

AI can improve the quality of remotely delivered care while simultaneously defending privacy and security for the telehealth patient. 

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DOJ announces 324 arrests in $14.6B healthcare fraud crackdown

Of those arrested, 96 are doctors, nurses and other healthcare providers. All face charges related to telehealth prescriptions, illegal opioid distribution and fraudulent billing practices.

Rishi Wadhera, MD, MPP, MPhil, associate director of the Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Center for Outcomes Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Explains a report showing socioeconomic factors are driving increased cardiovascular death rates, especially in younger adults, and urges action to address these health disparities.

Death from heart disease more common in rural areas—what can cardiologists do?

Rishi Wadhera, MD, detailed new data that show how socioeconomic factors are driving cardiovascular death rates, especially in younger adults.

Study: 19% of home care providers discontinued telehealth post-pandemic, citing limited reimbursement

A lack of Medicare reimbursement is just one issue. In a national survey, home healthcare agencies report dropping telemedicine offerings because elderly patients tend to prefer in-person care.