Bill would OK telehealth use by VA healthcare providers across state lines

FierceHealthIT
A new bill introduced by House lawmakers late last week would allow health professionals working for the Department of Veterans Affairs to practice telemedicine across state borders. The legislation, the Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2015, would amend a restriction that currently requires the physician and patient to be at a federally owned facility in order for treatment to take place. The legislation allows vets to receive treatment anywhere, including at home or a community center, according to an announcement. Read More

Milestone – Most states now have telehealth parity laws

American Telemedicine Association
Indiana, Minnesota and Nevada are the latest states to enact telemedicine parity laws, which means over half the country – 27 states and DC – now have laws in place enforcing coverage for telemedicine-provided services. Indiana’s parity law requires coverage of telemedicine services under private insurance via interactive audio, video or other electronic media. The new Minnesota law requires health plans to cover and reimburse for telemedicine in the same manner and at the same rate as in-person services. Nevada’s parity law requires coverage and reimbursement for telehealth under private insurance, Medicaid and workers compensation to the same extent and in the same amount as though provided in person. Read More

Telehealth ROI

There are many concerns about telehealth  driving up the patient (consumer) cost of health care because of the investment of the facility or doctor. Actually the opposite is true not only does telemedicine improve patient care quality, safety and satisfaction, but it also saves money. Read More

Proof that telemedicine's value outweighs the costs | mHealthNews

mhealthnews.com•UC Davis researchers found that, in pediatric cases at eight rural hospitals, the benefits of a telemedicine consult more than made up for the costs of installing the technology.

Virtual Hospital Lets Veterans Get Help from Home

Virtual Hospital Lets Veterans Get Help from Home

govtech.com•The VA Virtual Medical Center project brings together simulation training, telehealth and modern-day gaming technology and graphics.

This is a great example of leveraging collaborative technologies to provide a greater level of service whether it's to your patients,clients constituents, or employees. While this type of service may not be adopted by all generations, it can provide another level of service to those who do and even improve the level of service to those who do not by lowering the wait time on-site.  Read More

Telenutrition and screening services for patients with diabetes prevention

A new project at Tuba City Regional Healthcare Corporation (TCRHCC) is expanding our telehealth services to include telenutrition and screening services for patients with diabetes, and hopes to also extend diabetes screening to far-flung communities on the Navajo Nation.
The project, which will begin in the fall of 2015, will utilize a mobile telehealth van to conduct health screenings, telenutrition visits, blood sugar and blood pressure checks, as well as other health services. It was funded by a one-time grant from the Special Diabetes Program for Indians in 2014. Read More

40 percent of hospitals fail on nursing workforce safe practices

Just weeks after it issued a report that indicated hospitals have made little to no progress on patient safety outcomes, the Leapfrog Group released another report that found many hospitals also fail to adequately support their nurses. In its latest report, Leapfrog found that 40 percent of participants in its annual hospital survey failed to meet the group's national nursing workforce standard, which is composed of 21 nursing workforce safe practices that Leapfrog developed based on National Quality Forum standards.  Read More

UK is the best European market for health apps

In October 2014, a Berg Insight report found that around 4.7 million people in Europe were using some kind of connected care system by the end of 2013.  Read More

More Insurers Covering Telemedicine Services in Their Health Plans

Telemedicine is becoming increasingly available to consumers as more insurers are offering such services in their coverage options. Some experts say the move to telemedicine has been spurred by the Affordable Care Act's coverage expansion and provisions to make shopping for insurance on the exchanges easier. Wired. Read More

Telehealth Regulations, Licensing Practices Vary by State

Two reports from the American Telemedicine Association find varying regulations and physician group standards among states, suggesting that lawmakers have not come to a consensus about how to handle telehealth. The reports update findings from two similar analyses last year on coverage and reimbursement policies, as well as practice standards and licensure. MedCity News, ATA release. Read More

Missippi is Out and In Front on Telemedicine

Mississippi emerges as a leader in telemedicine After Hurricane Katrina, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, fully embraced telehealth to reach out to the state's sickest, most vulnerable residents. "Mississippi didn't have another option," said Kristi Henderson, the university's...A good example of a state using and benefiting from employing telehealth to manage sick patients. Read More

Downloadable 2015 Telehealth Benchmarks: Top Applications, Program Impact, Reimbursement Trends

From early detection of impending heart failure from 3,000 miles away to the latest wearable wrapped around wrists or dropped into a pocket, telehealth is having a radical impact on the healthcare industry, according to the Healthcare Intelligence Network's 2015 survey on telehealth & telemedicine. Download your complimentary executive summary of the survey results today for actionable metrics in telehealth applications, devices, impact, payment trends and much more.
http://www.hin.com/library/registerTelehealth2015.html

How can healthcare providers increase patient engagement by tapping into consumer desires for integrated technologies?

How to Leverage the Internet of Things for Patient Engagement

healthitanalytics.com•How can healthcare providers use the Internet of Things to make patient engagement a meaningful, effective reality? Read More