Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, over 96 million people living in the United States have been infected and over one million have lost their lives to the disease.[1] In an effort to shield older adults and people with disabilities … [Read more...] about New GAO Telehealth Report Recommends Strengthening Oversight and Additional Privacy and Security Risk Education
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OIG Brief Identifies Which Medicare Beneficiaries Were More Likely to Use Telehealth During First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic
The Office of Inspector General (OIG) is conducting oversight work assessing telehealth services to provide recommendations that can help policymakers and stakeholders consider changes to telehealth policies.[1] Part of that work involves assessing … [Read more...] about OIG Brief Identifies Which Medicare Beneficiaries Were More Likely to Use Telehealth During First Year of COVID-19 Pandemic
OIG Report: Telehealth Services Need Targeted Oversight to Safeguard Medicare
More than 40% of Medicare beneficiaries used telehealth services during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic.[1] In a recent report, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) described ways to “best protect Medicare and beneficiaries against … [Read more...] about OIG Report: Telehealth Services Need Targeted Oversight to Safeguard Medicare
As Interstate Telehealth Emergency Licensure Waivers Expire, Study Examines Impact on Medicare Beneficiaries
The first COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) was passed on January 31, 2020.[1] Almost two-and-a-half years later, over one million people have lost their lives to the infectious disease, and the nation is still struggling to emerge from the … [Read more...] about As Interstate Telehealth Emergency Licensure Waivers Expire, Study Examines Impact on Medicare Beneficiaries
Special Report: Telehealth and the Medicare Population: Building a Foundation for the Virtual Health Care Revolution
From 2019 to 2020, the use of telehealth by Medicare beneficiaries increased over 6,000%. As the United States slowly emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, this exponential expansion of telehealth and virtual care options are poised to change our … [Read more...] about Special Report: Telehealth and the Medicare Population: Building a Foundation for the Virtual Health Care Revolution
Report: Telehealth Use by Medicare Beneficiaries Increases Over 6,000% in 2020
In March 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) increased access to Medicare telehealth services with the aim of reducing travel that beneficiaries would have to make in order to get to in-person doctor visits and, therefore, … [Read more...] about Report: Telehealth Use by Medicare Beneficiaries Increases Over 6,000% in 2020
Studies Highlight Barriers to Health Equity: Access to Pharmacies & Telehealth
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
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