Stay up to date on the latest and join the conversation with #Telehealth and #Telemedicine.
Telemedicine use is growing among health care professionals according to a recent Aeris survey. The majority of more than 150 health care professionals say telemedicine is now a high priority for their organizations and is already providing a measurable return on investment (ROI). It seems that most (84 percent) have faith in the technology industry and believe that it has evolved well enough to produce telemedicine devices capable of delivering similar outcomes for patients treated at a hospital, clinic, or a doctor’s office. While much of the consensus was in favor of telemedicine, it is clear that most practices have a long way to go. Of the respondents, 32 percent had already deployed a telemedicine solution for their health care organization, while 17 percent were in the process of deploying one. Read up on the latest news around the country below.
Top Health Blogger – David Harlow
David Harlow of Flow Health (@healthblawg) is a health care lawyer and consultant with over twenty-five years of public and private sector experience. He is the writer of HealthBlawg which has received numerous awards and according to Forbes, “David Harlow is an expert on HIPAA and other health-related law issues and he knows more than virtually anyone on those topics.” Harlow recently gave a presentation at the Massachusetts Bar Association Annual Health Law Symposium on the topic Telemedicine: Challenges and Opportunities. In the presentation he provided some basic background on telemedicine, together with his perspective and information on recent developments. Matt R. Fisher (@Matt_R_Fisher), host of Healthcare De Jure, had the pleasure of interviewing Harlow for HealthCareNow Radio (@HCNowRadio). On the show they discuss the use of Artificial Intelligence in patient engagement and care enhancement.
In Health Insurer News
Last fall, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (@CareFirst), a health insurer covering Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, DC, announced a program which would offer $3 million to non-profit organizations and government entities for “innovative programs using telemedicine to improve access to health care and increase efficiency.” CareFirst recently announced the 10 organizations that will receive the financial support to forward their telemedicine initiatives. Mosaic Community Services in Central Maryland will receive the largest percentage of the donation to increase their patients’ access to behavioral health services and enhance care coordination.
In Business News
Telehealth Startup Raises $5.4 Million
According to an amended Form D filing with the U.S. Securities and Trade Commission, Fruit Street Health (@FruitStreetNews), a telehealth startup with a joint venture agreement with VSee (@VSee), has raised $5.4 million in the past year from 120 physicians in a crowdfunding push. Fruit Street and VSee created software that helps healthcare providers conduct HIPAA compliant video calls and monitor the diet and lifestyle of their patients using wearable devices and mobile applications. VSee is the world’s largest telemedicine video engine with more than 3 million users.
American Well Introduces The Exchange, Connecting Telehealth Supply and Demand Online
American Well (@AmericanWell), a national telehealth technology and services company, recently announced its newest enterprise telehealth service, The Exchange, and the first American Well partners to enter it – Cleveland Clinic, Nemours Children’s Health System and LiveHealth® Online. The Exchange allows healthcare organizations, for the first time, to redistribute their services online to new patient populations. With The Exchange, the virtual barriers between the supply and demand generators and their distinct telehealth services are lifted. Now, these organizations can connect and exchange their services with one another, instantly, online.
American Telemedicine Association News
The American Telemedicine Association (@AmericanTelemed) was established in 1993 and is a non-profit organization who works with its membership to fully integrate telemedicine into transformed healthcare systems to improve quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. ATA is the leading international resource and advocate promoting the use of advanced remote medical technologies.
State Telemedicine Gaps Analysis Reports
ATA has sifted through the data of all 50 states, each with differing telemedicine policies, and assigned every state a grade ranging from A through F. The two reports identify and compare state policies based on telemedicine reimbursement and physician practice standards.
Upcoming Conference
[tweet_dis excerpt=”Don’t miss #TTSPS2016 – SPS #Telemedicine #Telehealth Showcase 6/21-22 in downtown Phoenix”]Tweet This[/tweet_dis] – This year’s Telemedicine & Telehealth Service Provider Showcase (SPS) Conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency Downtown from June 21-22 in Phoenix, AZ. “SPS is about bringing better healthcare to patients, communities, and populations; improving outcomes; and reducing costs. It is about helping hospitals and healthcare systems to thrive through partnerships with telemedicine providers.” The SPS Conference will be packed with sessions and panels featuring nationally known telehealth innovators, experts and thought leaders, including C-suite officers of some of the country’s largest health-care companies, telehealth company founders and leaders, legal and regulatory authorities, health-care investors, and telemedicine program trendsetters. Preview the schedule and register now!
CMS Covered Telehealth Services
You can download the list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth on the CMS website.