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Ramona Midkiff

Apr 23
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Our CEO was a voice on Palmetto Perspectives at SCETV earlier this month

By News

Kathy Schwarting, CEO of Palmetto Care Connections, says data can help lead policy change and ensure that reimbursements for #telehealth services continue beyond the #coronavirus pandemic. Palmetto Perspectives, SCETV’s community engagement-focused series, recently featured a panel discussion exploring #healthcare disparities in South Carolina. During that episode, Schwarting responded to this question: “How do we make sure that the broader scope of telehealth-based services like prenatal care and home newborn assessments – how can they be continued as we move out from under the pandemic?” To watch the entire episode: https://www.scetv.org/watch/palmetto-perspectives

Apr 23
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Can Telehealth Help Healthcare Providers Tackle Rural Health Disparities?

By News

Federal officials are awarding almost $13 million to dozens of organizations across 35 states to create rural health partnerships that use telehealth and other strategies to take on rural health disparities.

By Eric Wicklund

 

– Federal officials have awarded almost $13 million in funding to help healthcare providers use telehealth and other services to address rural health disparities.

Some 61 organizations across 35 states will share the funding from the Health and Human Services Department’s Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) through its community-based Rural Health Care Services Outreach Program. The program “expands and improves health services for rural residents by supporting innovative and evidence-based approaches tailored to the specific needs of local communities.”

The program’s goal is to improve access to care and clinical outcomes by targeting barriers to access in rural communities that drive down health outcomes. That might include lack of social services, economic status, community infrastructure (such as broadband access), access to specialty services and even cultural concerns.

“HRSA is dedicated to supporting community-focused approaches to improve health care in rural and underserved areas,” Acting HRSA Administrator Diana Espinosa said in a press release. “Through strong partnerships with local organizations, the Outreach Program will improve the health of the nation’s underserved and vulnerable rural populations and expand access to comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services.”

Connected health tools and platforms are proving popular and effective in addressing rural health outcomes, particularly during the coronavirus pandemic. Through these channels, healthcare providers can reach out into underserved populations with targeted messaging and improved access to care and other services, addressing barriers that drive down health outcomes.

Examples include mHealth messages that address chronic care management, health centers and clinics that use telehealth to connect with social and specialty services, and mHealth apps and devices that enable people to better manage their health and wellness.

The program is split into two phases. In the first, the HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy is issuing $8.98 million to 45 organizations to collaborate with local healthcare and social service groups to improve care for underserved and socioeconomically disadvantaged rural residents. Those services will include telehealth, chronic disease management and prevention, care coordination, dental and behavioral healthcare services and other services that target the social determinants of health.

The second phase is new, and focuses on the HRSA’s Healthy Rural Hometown Initiative (HRHI) which aims to take on underlying factors that drive the five most common causes of avoidable death: heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease and stroke. Some 16 groups will share $3.79 million to take on those issues.

Apr 23
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CCHP’S New Website & Integrated Telehealth Policy Database Tool

By News

Today the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has launched its newly redesigned website with a revamped telehealth policy database tool (called ‘Policy Finder’).  Historically, CCHP has released twice a year (Spring and Fall) updates to its “State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies” report in the form of a PDF report document that details all the telehealth policies for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.  Over the years this has evolved to include an update to CCHP’s online database of the same information.  The information in the State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Report has now transitioned exclusively to a new and improved Policy Finder tool.  This online database tool allows CCHP to easily update each state’s information on a more frequent basis instead of updating only in the Spring and Fall.  Additionally, while there will no longer be a single PDF report with every state, the information from the online database can now be exported for each state into a PDF document using the most current information available on CCHP’s website. Don’t worry, you can still view our findings through our executive summary, infographic, and at-a-glance summary chart.

The new website also includes new features, such as: 

  • The ability to compare the policy of any of the topic areas for any two states
  • COVID-19 state actions have now been integrated into each state policy page
  • View color coded maps recapping policy trends by state across topic areas such as:
    • Medicaid reimbursement for live video, store and forward and remote patient monitoring
    • states with private payer laws
  • Two new topic areas have been added under the Professional Requirements Category:
    • Licensure Compacts
    • Professional Boards Standards

This transition away from the cumbersome 500-page report over to exclusively using CCHPs new policy finder tool will result in more timely policy information that is easier for users to navigate and understand.  In case you do need help navigating the new information, view this quick tutorial on how the new Finder tool can be easily utilized.

Apr 21
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Study: In-ambulance telehealth consultation leads to faster stroke treatment

By News

Researchers at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health found that in-ambulance telehealth consultations led to faster treatment times for stroke patients. (Photo/MUSC Health)

South Carolina researchers found that door-to-treatment time was cut by 18 minutes with in-ambulance telehealth consultation

Yesterday at 1:40 PM

By Laura French

CHARLESTON, S.C. — A recent study found that in-ambulance telehealth consultations led to quicker treatment times for stroke patients.

The study conducted by researchers at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Health, in partnership with Georgetown Memorial Hospital and Hampton Regional Medical Center, found that door-to-treatment times were cut by about 18 minutes on average when telehealth consultations began in the ambulance, according to an MUSC press release.

“A 15-minute reduction in door-to-treatment time leads to patients with reduced complications from tPA and significant reduction in disability or death,” said Christine Holmestedt, D.O., the medical director of MUSC Health’s Comprehensive Stroke Center, in a statement. “They are more likely to be discharged to an acute rehab rather than long-term care, and they have much better functional outcomes.”

The study tested a new telestroke workflow that involved three-way communication between the patient and EMS crew, a stroke specialist and staff at the receiving hospital. The in-ambulance consultations helped emergency department doctors and nurses better prepare for the patient’s arrival, and also helped determine whether the ambulance should be rerouted to a comprehensive stroke center rather than the closest hospital, according to MUSC.

“These improved outcomes reduce disability and even death for patients seen with acute stroke,” Holmstedt stated. “And they don’t negatively impact the EMT workflow, so we can bring more efficient treatment options to the state’s rural population.

Apr 21
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Most Consumers Want to Keep Telehealth After the COVID-19 Pandemic

By News

According to a new report, almost 88% of Americans want to continue using telehealth for non-urgent consultations after COVID-19 has passed. To assess consumer perspectives of telehealth, as well as how they may have shifted over the course of the pandemic, customer engagement company SYKES polled 2,000 Americans in March of 2021 and compared their responses with previous survey results on the subject from March of 2020. The research found substantial increases in virtual care support and satisfaction as a majority of Americans have now experienced telehealth firsthand. In March of 2020, about 20% of respondents had experienced a telehealth appointment, compared to over 61% in March of 2021. Nearly 80% said they feel it is possible to receive quality care through telehealth visits, and willingness to try telehealth in the future was shown to have jumped from about 60% to 80% as well. The survey also showed positive perceived benefits of telehealth, for instance nearly 86% of respondents say telehealth made it easier for them to get the care they need, and over 31% said their healthcare costs decreased at the same time.

Additional notable information garnered from the survey include the following findings:

  • 31% felt their doctor comes across more empathetic via telehealth
  • 64% said they’d prefer to have parts of their annual physical done via telehealth
  • 74% would be willing to share health data from a digital fitness tracker or smart medical device with their physicians
  • 74% believe telehealth appointments will become the norm

Overall, the responses seem to show consumer support and preferences toward telehealth will only continue to grow moving forward. Additional information on the survey and findings can be found on the SYKES report website.

 

Apr 20
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House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn highlights infrastructure needs in SC, pushes for American Jobs Plan

By News

WASHINGTON, DC – JULY 22: Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) speaks during a news conference to discuss an upcoming House vote regarding statues on Capitol Hill on July 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. House Democrats have introduced a bill that would replace the bust of former Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger B. Taney in the Old Supreme Court Chamber at the U.S. Capitol with one of former Justice Thurgood Marshall. Taney was the author of the 1857 Dred Scott decision that declared African Americans couldn’t be citizens. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

by: Chase Laudenslager
Posted: Apr 14, 2021/09:11 PM EDT/ Updated: Apr 14, 2021 / 09:16 PM EDT

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WCBD) – U.S. House of Representatives Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-SC) on Wednesday released data collected by the American Society of Civil Engineers highlighting infrastructure shortcomings in South Carolina.

Clyburn cited the following as some of the report’s key findings:

  • 12% of households do not have access to broadband
  • 3,780 miles of road and 745 bridges are in disrepair
  • 19% of trains and other transit vehicles in the state are past their useful life
  •  267,000 renters pay more than 30% of their income in rent due to shortages in affordable housing units
  • South Carolina needs $6.1 billion in modernization costs to ensure safe drinking water
  • 34% of families have few or no childcare options in their communities, preventing parents from joining the workforce
  • 402,000 veterans in South Carolina rely on VA facilities, which have been chronically underfunded – leading to longer waits and lower quality care
  • An average low-income family in South Carolina currently pays 10-12% of their income toward energy bills because their home has not been sufficiently weatherized
  • South Carolina has experienced 37 extreme weather events in the past decade, which will only increase in frequency and severity due to the climate crisis.

To improve infrastructure throughout the state and country, Clyburn is advocating for the American Jobs Plan, which he says “will help all South Carolina communities meet their 21st Century challenges.”

Specifically, the plan “commits significant resources to lower energy costs and end digital deserts, consistent with [Clyburn’s] Affordable Internet for All Act.”

Click here for a full breakdown of how the plan would address South Carolina’s infrastructure needs.

Apr 19
Love0

FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program Reboots in 2 Weeks

By News

The Federal Communications Commission will accept applications for the second round of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program from April 29 to May 6.

By Eric Wicklund

April 16, 2021 – Healthcare providers interested in taking part in the Federal Communications Commission’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program will have seven days to submit applications, beginning on April 29.

The FCC made the announcement on Thursday, setting the stage for a second round of funding for projects aimed at boosting access to connected health services during the coronavirus pandemic through better broadband resources.

“For over a year, health care providers have fought on the front lines of this pandemic and have had to rapidly innovate to support the health and well-being of all Americans,” Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a press release. “Telehealth has been at the forefront of this effort and I’m pleased to announce that additional support is just around the corner.”
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“The FCC is dedicated to moving quickly to review and approve applications for this funding to support health care providers and patients across the country,” she added.

Congress appropriated $200 million in the CARES Act to launch the program in 2020 through the FCC’s Wireline Competition Bureau. FCC issued awards to 539 applicants before running out of money in July, but was criticized in some corners for a lack of transparency in the program.

Another $249.95 million was set aside in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to create a second round. At the same time, FCC officials revised the application and award process.

  • It will establish a system for rating applicants, with more attention paid to hardest-hit and low-income areas as well as projects that failed to gain approval in the first round, those in healthcare provider shortage areas and Tribal communities.
  • It will ensure “equitable nationwide distribution of funding so that each state, territory, and the District of Columbia will receive funding since the program’s inception.” Last year’s program funded projects in 47 states, Washington DC and Guam but sent no money to Hawaii, Alaska or Montana.
  • It will set a deadline for applications, rather than reviewing programs as they are submitted, so that all projects can be reviewed at the same time.
  • It will award funding in two phases, so that approved projects can be funded quickly and the rest have an opportunity to provide more information to qualify for the second phase.

The filing window will run from Thursday, April 29 to Thursday, May 6.

The money is designated for “telecommunications services, information services, and connected devices necessary to enable telehealth during the COVID19 pandemic.”

The COVID-19 Telehealth Program isn’t a grant program, but a reimbursement program. To receive disbursements, healthcare providers are required to submit an invoicing form and supporting documentation to receive reimbursement for eligible telemedicine and mHealth expenses and services.

Apr 14
Love1

FCC Encourages Public to Use Its Speed Test App

By News

WASHINGTON, April 12, 2021—As part of the Commission’s Broadband Data Collection effort to collect comprehensive data on broadband availability across the United States, the FCC is encouraging the public to download the FCC’s Speed Test app, which is currently used to collect speed test data as part of the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America program. The app provides a way for consumers to test the performance of their mobile and in-home broadband networks. In addition to showing network performance test results to the user, the app provides the test results to the FCC while protecting the privacy and confidentiality of program volunteers.“To close the gap between digital haves and have nots, we are working to build a comprehensive, user-friendly dataset on broadband availability. Expanding the base of consumers who use the FCC Speed Test app will enable us to provide improved coverage information to the public and add to the measurement tools we’re developing to show where broadband is truly available throughout the United States,” said Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel. The network coverage and performance information gathered from the Speed Test data will help to inform the FCC’s efforts to collect more accurate and granular broadband deployment data. The app will also be used in the future for consumers to challenge provider-submitted maps when the Broadband Data Collection systems become available. More information about the app is available on the FCC website. The FCC Speed Test App is available in the Google Play Store for Android devices, and in the Apple App Store for iOS devices.

FCC Speed Test App Tip Sheet

Description and Purpose

Q: Why does the FCC have a Speed Test App?

A: The app provides data for the FCC’s Measuring Broadband America Program’s mobile–performance measurement effort, aninitiative to gather crowdsourceddata on cellular networkperformanceacross the United States. The FCC mobile performance testing software, developedin cooperation withSamKnows Inc.,uses smartphone–based technology to collect broadband performance data, with the highest commitment to protecting participants’ privacy.The anonymizeddatais freely available (MBA–Mobile Data) to consumers, academics,policymakers, and any other interested parties.

Q: What is the FCC mobile app called and where can I get it?

A: It is called the FCC Speed Test app, and is available in the Google Play Store for Android devices, published by the developer “FCC APPs,” or in the Apple App Store for iOS devices, published by the developer Sam Knows. Search “FCC Speed Test” in either store.

Q: Aren’t there other speed tests already available?

A: There are other speed test apps. The FCC Speed Test mobile application helps the FCC fulfill a Congressional requirement to collect and provide the American public with free, open,and transparent information on mobile broadband performance across the United States. Other speed tests may not disclose their collection methods publicly,may impose fees for broad access to the data they collect, and may not reveal measurement details.

Q: Why should I download the app?

A: As a volunteer contributing to this effort, you get information about the broadband performance of networks that you use. Additionally, like any crowdsourced measurement effort, more volunteer participants will result in better quality data that is more statistically accurate and representative of the network performance that consumers experience.The aggregated and anonymized data will inform consumers and industry, and may lead to better mobile broadband performance for the nation. Through your efforts and those of other volunteers, the American public gets an accurate, unbiased, and open view of mobile broadband performance.

Q: Is the app free?

A: While the application itself is free, data transmitted by the app will count against any data usage limits for your service plan.To ensure that the amount of data used by the app is minimal, the app’s default setting limits its data usage to no more than 100 MB per month, which is a small fraction of many data plans. Users can change the data limit setting in the app.

Q: Why does the Android app include scheduled tests?

A: It helps to provide a more accurate view of typical network performance.Randomized tests distributed in an unbiased manner over various time periods and locales provide a more statistically valid approach to data collection. (You can disable scheduled background tests at your discretion or if they interfere with device performance.)*NOTE: Scheduled tests cannot be run on Apple devices due to iOS security features. As a result, the only option for such devices is manual on–demand testing.

Download links:


Apr 14
Love0

HHS Unveils Telehealth Grants to Address Rural Maternal, Obstetrics Care

By News

HHS is kicking off Black Maternal Health Week by offering three four-year grants, totaling $12 million, to projects aimed at boosting maternal health outcomes among underserved populations in rural America.

By Eric Wicklund

– Federal officials are making $12 million available for three projects that aim to approve maternal and obstetrics care for underserved populations in rural America, and they expect telehealth to be part of the program.

The Notice of Funding Opportunity from the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy comes as federal officials kick off Black Maternal Health Week. The HRSA’s Rural Maternity and Obstetrics Management Strategies (RMOMS) program, which will offer the three award recipients grants of up to $1 million annually for four years, aims to boost outcomes in rural and underserved population by testing new models of connected care.

“Improving maternal health outcomes – particularly among Black women – is priority for the Biden administration and for the Department,” Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, said in a press release issued Monday. “Expanding access to health insurance coverage, preventative care and investing in rural maternity care is one step forward. With the American Rescue Plan, President Biden gave states tools to combat the racial disparities in pregnancy-related deaths by providing an easier pathway for states to ensure mothers access to the care they need after birth. Continuous health care coverage reduces health care costs and improves outcomes.”

In an HRSA release highlighting the RMOMS grant program, officials said the three award recipients would have four years to plan and launch programs that improve maternal obstetrics care in rural communities. Those programs would have four areas of focus: risk-appropriate care approaches in rural regions; continuum of care through network approaches; telehealth and specialty care; and financial sustainability.

“The program will allow awardees to test models in order to address unmet needs for their target population, which could include populations who have historically suffered from poorer health outcomes, health disparities and other inequities,” the release says.

Applicants must be part of a network serving HRSA-designated rural areas that includes at least two rural hospitals or critical access hospitals (CAHs), at least one federally qualified health center (FQHC), at least one Level II and/or Level IV facility (as defined by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists), locally and/or regionally available social services in the continuum of care and the state Medicaid agency.

The HRSA will host a webinar on the program on April 22. Applications are due by June 4.

HHS isn’t the only organization taking a hard look at racial and ethnic disparities in maternal health outcomes. Two months ago, Congress saw the introduction of a package of 12 bills called the Black Maternal Momnibus Act of 2021.

Among other things, the package of bills calls on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to consider payment models that improve the integration of telehealth services into maternal healthcare programs and establish grant programs for models of care that include access to broadband internet and remote patient monitoring services and programs that use mHealth tools to address social determinants of health.

Other bills in the package, which is endorsed by more than 190 organizations, would make targeted investments in programs that address social determinants of health, fund community-based organizations and programs that might use connected health tools and platforms to address issues like substance abuse, pre- and post-partum mental health, veteran care and building the perinatal workforce, and improve data collection efforts and quality measures to improve health outcomes and access to care.

In addition, several of the 14 applicants selected in January’s first round of the Federal Communications Commission’s Connected Care Pilot Program aim to use funding to launch or expand connected health programs that address high-risk pregnancies and maternal health outcomes.

“As maternal mortality rates continue to drop around the world, they are rising in the U.S., leaving behind devastated families and children who will grow up never knowing their moms,” US Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), who co-founded and co-chairs the Black Maternal Health Caucus and is one of the co-sponsors of the Black Maternal Momnibus Act, said in a press release. “This crisis demands urgent attention and serious action to save the lives of Black mothers and all women of color and birthing people across the county.”

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