Two studies recently published in Health Affairs shed light on important health equity issues. Pharmacy Deserts/Closures One of the strategies employed by the federal government to expand nationwide access to vaccines was to establish the … [Read more...] about Studies Highlight Barriers to Health Equity: Access to Pharmacies & Telehealth
telehealth
Speech Generating Devices: Beneficiary Voices Silenced Once Again by CMS
Medicare coverage of speech generating devices (SGDs) has historically fallen victim to unintended consequences for beneficiaries who need an SGD to communicate. Most recently, it literally took two Acts of Congress to remove barriers to SGD coverage … [Read more...] about Speech Generating Devices: Beneficiary Voices Silenced Once Again by CMS
Study Finds Inequities in Telehealth Care
A recent study found inequities in the use and access to telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, with older adults, low-income individuals, non-English speaking individuals and minority groups most affected. The study looked at 148,402 patients … [Read more...] about Study Finds Inequities in Telehealth Care
Administration Proposes Permanent and Temporary Extensions of Pandemic-Related Medicare Telehealth – Growing Disparities and Other Concerns Remain
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has expanded access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) through temporary Medicare waivers and other rule changes, (see, e.g., the Center for Medicare … [Read more...] about Administration Proposes Permanent and Temporary Extensions of Pandemic-Related Medicare Telehealth – Growing Disparities and Other Concerns Remain
Joint Principles from Center for Medicare Advocacy and Medicare Rights Center: Medicare Expansion of Telehealth Helps Beneficiaries Access Care During the Pandemic – But Caution is Needed Before Making These Changes Permanent
Note: the Center for Medicare Advocacy issued a version of these principles in last week’s CMA Alert. They have been updated, and are now issued jointly with the Medicare Rights Center. During the COVID-19 public health emergency, legislative … [Read more...] about Joint Principles from Center for Medicare Advocacy and Medicare Rights Center: Medicare Expansion of Telehealth Helps Beneficiaries Access Care During the Pandemic – But Caution is Needed Before Making These Changes Permanent
Medicare Expansion of Telehealth Helps Beneficiaries Access Care During the Pandemic – But Caution is Needed before Making These Changes Permanent
The Center for Medicare Advocacy’s mission is to advance access to affordable, quality health care for older people and people with disabilities. We recognize that the expansion of Medicare-covered telehealth services has helped many beneficiaries … [Read more...] about Medicare Expansion of Telehealth Helps Beneficiaries Access Care During the Pandemic – But Caution is Needed before Making These Changes Permanent