The world is facing its biggest health crisis in decades but one of the world’s most promising technologies — artificial intelligence (AI) – isn’t playing the major role some may have hoped for.
Monthly Archives: April 2020
First COVID-19 diagnostic test authorized for home sample collection
Using a designated kit ordered by a doctor, patients will be able to self-swab and mail their samples to LabCorp testing facilities. The self-collection kits will be available in “most states” in the coming weeks.
Doctors Struggle to Get Paid for Telehealth Visits
Telehealth reimbursement during the COVID-19 pandemic has increased rapidly compared with its previously slow uptake, but providers say they’re not being paid to the extent they are being promised — or anywhere close to the amounts they made with in-person visits. That’s partially due to a lack of clear information and inconsistent policies across the country’s patchwork of insurance plans.
Katko urges Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to expand telehealth access for seniors
U.S. Rep. John Katko (R-NY) recently made a bipartisan request that America’s senior citizens have expanded access to Medicare-covered telehealth services.
“Currently, Medicare only reimburses recipients for services conducted with audio and video equipment, excluding coverage of mental healthcare services provided over the phone,” Rep. Katko said on April 9. “With telehealth services being the only way millions of Americans have access to mental health services during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is imperative that CMS [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] immediately acts to expand coverage to audio-only telehealth services, ensuring all Medicare recipients have access to mental healthcare.”
Texas DWC Adopts Emergency Rule on Telemedicine, Telehealth
The Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) has adopted a new emergency rule relating to telemedicine and telehealth for physical medicine and rehabilitation services.
New 28 Texas Administrative Code §167.1 was adopted on an emergency basis became effective April 13, 2020.
Apple, Google have teamed up to build system-level COVID-19 contact tracing, interoperable APIs for iOS, Android
Two of the biggest names in technology have formed an unprecedented partnership to introduce health data-sharing and COVID-19 contact-tracing technologies to the lion’s share of the smartphone market.
MEDICARE TELEMEDICINE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER FACT SHEET
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services so that beneficiaries can receive a wider range of services from their doctors without having to travel to a healthcare facility.
To combat COVID-19, FCC proposes $200M telehealth investment program
The proposal would fully fund telehealth services and devices for eligible healthcare providers, although some aren’t pleased with its exclusion of for-profit hospitals.
Md. passes bills to expand use of telemedicine
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan is signing bills that expand the use of telemedicine into law.
The legislation was passed in the General Assembly before the coronavirus outbreak led to executive orders that resulted in current restrictions on businesses, the closure of schools and the most recent stay-at-home order.
California Relaxes the Rules for mHealth, Telehealth Video Chats
Mirroring the federal government’s action on HIPAA guidelines for mHealth and telehealth, Gov. Gavin Newsom has relaxed state enforcement to help care providers who are using the technology in good faith during the Coronavirus pandemic.