Allowing doctors and other providers to easily practice telemedicine across state lines would combat the nationwide health-care staffing shortage ignited by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Workforce is an issue,” Deanna Larson, CEO at telemedicine provider Avel eCare, said at a Thursday hearing of a Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation panel. Larson serves on the board of […]

The Justice Department is targeting over $1.4 billion in alleged health-care fraud in a nationwide enforcement spree involving 138 defendants and 42 doctors and nurses. The Friday announcement includes $1.1 billion in alleged schemes involving telemedicine companies arranging for fraudulent orders for expensive durable medical equipment and genetic testing, according to Assistant Attorney General Kenneth […]

The American Medical Association is pushing for Congress to continue telehealth flexibilities past the COVID-19 public health emergency and postpone physician payment cuts set to go into effect in January by adding provisions to Democrats’ emerging reconciliation package. The House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce committees both released their proposed contributions to the […]

Federal watchdogs are investigating whether the expansion of telehealth services during the pandemic opened the door to fraud and abuse, a move that policy experts say could help determine the future of the practice. U.S. health-care providers embraced telemedicine over the past year as a way of providing continuing care to patients who would otherwise […]

WASHINGTON, August 26 WASHINGTON, August 26, 2021—The Federal Communications Commission today approved an initial set of 62 applications for funding commitments totaling $41.98 million for Round 2 of its COVID-19 Telehealth Program. Health care providers in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia, including those previously unfunded in Round 1, will use this funding […]

Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL) reintroduced a bill Wednesday (July 28) that would direct HHS to study telehealth’s impact on Medicare and Medicaid during the COVID-19 public health emergency and eventually submit a report to Congress. One telehealth advocate says this bill would be a positive step forward — so long as it’s paired with an […]

A group of lawmakers and the White House struck a $550 billion deal to revitalize the nation’s transportation and utility infrastructure after weeks of negotiations, meeting a key goal of President Joe Biden: a large, bipartisan bill. The Senate plans to vote to begin consideration of the legislation, which has yet to be completed, as soon […]

Telemedicine didn’t just provide a pandemic lifeline for patients and their doctors. It’s linking rural hospitals with offsite clinicians who consult on patient care and back up on-site doctors and nurses as Covid’s latest surge fills beds once again. With the highly transmissible Delta variant of Covid-19 now overtaking areas with low vaccination rates, demand […]

More than 400 organizations, mostly health care providers and technology companies, pushed for COVID-19 telehealth flexibilities to be made permanent in a letter sent to congressional leadership Monday (July 26). Telehealth has exploded since the onset of the COVID-19 public health emergency, thanks in part to temporary flexibilities from CMS that allow providers to be […]

Hundreds of health and technology groups urge Congress to extend telehealth flexibility for Medicare beneficiaries past the end of the Covid-19 pandemic. Last year’s CARES Act let the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services temporarily waive certain restrictions on how providers can deliver remote care. A Biden administration proposed rule (RIN 0938–AU42) would extend temporary Medicare coverage […]