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.

DEA, HHS postpone permanent telehealth prescribing rule—again
The new rule was expected to go into effect on March 21 and would have expanded prescribing practices for buprenorphine, a non-opioid painkiller used to treat addiction.
Walgreens resolves $595M lawsuit over COVID testing
The dispute was with Everly Health, a telemedicine provider contracted to fulfill orders for COVID-19 tests during the pandemic. Walgreens was accused of violating provisions of a service agreement.
Congress hesitates on long-term telemedicine expansion admid advocacy push
Congress temporarily extended telemedicine provisions until March amid lobby efforts by the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) and others to make the provisions permanent.
DEA wants to permanently anchor some COVID-era prescription regulations
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the adoption of some COVID-era prescription practices around certain controlled substances. The agency published a framework to guide any such changes Jan. 17.
Telehealth diabetes management offering now part of Amazon marketplace
The integration was announced during the annual JP Morgan Health Care Conference in San Francisco. The program works through Amazon Benefits Manager to remotely help patients with weight and blood pressure management.

Performance, privacy and self-efficiency linked to telehealth utilization in older populations

The utilization of telehealth by older patients is linked to perceived privacy and security, performance and effort expectancy, according to a study published April 4 in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.

AAFP, Zipnosis partner to develop telehealth platform for family physicians

The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) has announced a partnership with Zipnosis, providers of virtual care technology, to provide AAFP’s 129,000 members and their patients with a comprehensive virtual care platform.

Telehealth

DEA, HHS postpone permanent telehealth prescribing rule—again

Walgreens resolves $595M lawsuit over COVID testing

Congress hesitates on long-term telemedicine expansion admid advocacy push

DEA wants to permanently anchor some COVID-era prescription regulations

Telehealth diabetes management offering now part of Amazon marketplace