Online refractive eye exam company Visibly, formerly called Opternative, has filed a complaint in Indiana seeking to overturn a law prohibiting providers from prescribing corrective lenses via telemedicine in the state.
Monthly Archives: April 2019
Best Buy selling Tyto Care’s telehealth platform online, in certain stores
Best Buy is now selling Tyto Care’s remote care device and service through its online storefront, the companies announced in a press release this morning. The retailer is also offering the platform in certain Minnesota stores, and has plans to expand this availability to North Dakota, South Dakota, California and Ohio locations as well.
Federal Indictments & Law Enforcement Actions in One of the Largest Health Care Fraud Schemes Involving Telemedicine and Durable Medical Equipment Marketing Executives Results in Charges Against 24 Individuals Responsible for Over $1.2 Billion in Losses
One of the largest health care fraud schemes investigated by the FBI and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General (HHS-OIG) and prosecuted by the Department of Justice resulted in charges against 24 defendants, including the CEOs, COOs and others associated with five telemedicine companies, the owners of dozens of durable medical equipment (DME) companies and three licensed medical professionals, for their alleged participation in health care fraud schemes involving more than $1.2 billion in loss, as well as the execution of over 80 search warrants in 17 federal districts. In addition, the Center for Medicare Services, Center for Program Integrity (CMS/CPI) announced today that it took adverse administrative action against 130 DME companies that had submitted over $1.7 billion in claims and were paid over $900 million.
VisuWell Advances UAMS e-Link Telemedicine Network
VisuWell Extends the Existing UAMS e-Link Infrastructure by Allowing for a More Comprehensive Experience, Capable of Providing Arkansas’ Population and Providers with Improved Access to Healthcare and Specialty Consultation
Amazon Alexa celebrates HIPAA-compliant data transfer with six new healthcare skills
Developed by providers, payers and other stakeholders, each of the new voice-based services is designed to conveniently bring health knowledge and management into the home.
Contract Year 2020 Medicare Advantage and Part D Flexibility Final Rule (CMS-4185-F)
On April 5, 2019, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that updates the Medicare Advantage (MA or Part C) and Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D) programs by promoting innovative plan designs, improved quality, and choices for patients.
Pediatric telemedicine visits may increase antibiotic overprescribing
Children with acute respiratory infections were prescribed antibiotics more often during direct-to-consumer telemedicine visits than during in-person primary care appointments or urgent care visits, according to UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh research reported in Pediatrics.
Deep Lens collects another $13.7M for digital pathology
Deep Lens, a digital pathology startup particularly focused on cancer trials, has brought in a $13.65 million Series A round, according to an SEC filing. The fundraise was headed by Northpond Ventures with additional support from prior investors Rev1 Ventures, Sierra Ventures and Tamarind-Hill Partners, according to a release.
Microsoft is closing its HealthVault patient-records service on November 20
Microsoft is dropping its HealthVault patient records-management service, the company notified customers via email on April 5. The service will be shut down on November 20 and any data residing in the service will be deleted after that date.
Virtual Care for Kids® Partners with El Paso ISD to Launch the Largest School Based Telemedicine Program in Texas
On-demand virtual pediatric doctor visits are now available to students in eleven El Paso ISD schools starting April 8th. Virtual Care for Kids, the first service of its kind in Texas made possible by Urgent Care for Kids, was selected as the first districtwide telemedicine partner for EPISD. This service provides student-patients through licensed nursing staff the ability to connect via video chat with a Texas-based pediatrician in minutes.