NRTRC October 2025 Newsletter

Post-Waiver Policy: Your Questions Answered (Mostly!)

The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has released a concise summary of the Medicare telehealth waivers that expired on September 30, 2025 (applicable to Medicare beneficiaries only). CCHP has developed two helpful resources to guide you through these changes:

• Medicare Waiver Expiration & Telehealth FAQs (document)
• Telehealth Medicare Policies Post-September 30, 2025 (summary table)

Together, these tools provide a quick way to understand what has changed and what remains the same in Medicare telehealth policy.

NRTRC Hosts the November National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) Webinar

Join the NRTRC and the NCTRC on Thursday, November 20, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. for Burnout & Telemental Health: Re-Connecting to Ourselves while Connecting to Others. David R. Kopacz, MD, psychiatrist in Primary Care Mental Health Integration at the Seattle Division of Puget Sound VA and a Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Washington, will present.

Burnout is ubiquitous in healthcare, but telemental health has its own unique challenges. Technology allows us to rapidly connect with patients anywhere in the country, and yet it can paradoxically isolate us (by working from home without colleagues), emotionally distance us from others (by limiting emotional and non-verbal communication), and make us more sedentary and disconnected from our bodies. This talk will explore ways to mitigate telemental health burnout by enhancing human connection with ourselves and with our patients.

Register here.

Living Well with Diabetes Training Program Materials

The American Diabetes Association recommends annual diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) for all people with diabetes. Unfortunately, access is limited; insurance only covers accredited DSMES programs taught by credentialed professionals, and many people, especially in rural areas, lack coverage, proximity, or transportation. Too often, the result is no education at all. In response, the NRTRC created the Living Well with Diabetes Program materials. These materials can be used to develop an internal diabetes education program that can be delivered by appropriately trained and supervised staff. We emphasize that an accredited DSMES program, taught by a credentialed educator, that is accessible and affordable for those with T2D, is always the preferred option. However, that option is often unavailable in our rural communities. 

• Living Well with Diabetes—Diabetes Education & Empowerment Training by Trained Staff. Webinar recording from July 31, 2025, that covers the content and materials.
• 1. Living Well with Diabetes Education Program. PowerPoint slide set. Contact us if you want access to edit these slides to meet your facility needs.   
• 2. Operational and Implementation Considerations. A few pointers and important considerations.
• 3. Diabetes Care Tracker—Track It to Manage It. Person-centered tracker designed by the NRTRC. 
• 4. BMI Weight Ranges by Height. Designed by the NRTRC to easily look up weights associated with a given body mass index (BMI).

REGIONAL NEWS

Rural Health Association of Utah’s Annual Conference

Join the NRTRC and UETN at the Annual Rural Health Association of Utah (RHAU) Conference, November 12 and 13. The two-day RHAU conference is the state’s premier gathering focused on improving the health and well-being of rural communities. Connect with professionals from all disciplines, care settings, and corners of Utah. Explore new ideas, gain practical insights, and build lasting partnerships to advance rural health. See more in our Events section below.

NRTRC Seeks Advisory Board Members from Idaho and Montana

We are still seeking a few dedicated professionals to join our telehealth advisory board. We’re looking for individuals from Idaho and Montana with the following qualifications:

• Passion for advancing healthcare access and equity
• Experience in improving patient outcomes in underserved regions
• Experience with telehealth strategy development and implementation

Please use our contact form and select “Outreach Request” to express your interest or nominate a candidate.

NATIONAL NEWS

NRTRC Maps 230 TAPs Locations!

The NRTRC has mapped 230 telehealth access points (TAPs) on the NRTRC Find Telehealth Map! A TAP is a public-facing space that furnishes a device with a working camera, speaker and microphone, an internet connection, and privacy considerations in the form of a dedicated room or kiosk. This arrangement allows the general public to access telehealth appointments. TAPs are found throughout the nation at community anchor institutions like libraries, social service agencies, and community health centers. The NRTRC began mapping public-facing TAPs in 2023 to raise awareness of the available spaces for telehealth appointments and help digital navigators, providers, and telehealth participants find the resources they need to participate in and access telehealth services. 

The work doesn’t stop here! We will continue to accept TAPs enrollment on our map on a rolling basis. Please continue to utilize this resource and inform other organizations across the U.S. that they can enroll their TAP at any time using this form.

Rural Medical Education Collaborative Will Host Clinical Congress

The nationwide celebration of National Rural Health Day is Thursday, November 20, 2025! One way to celebrate the #PowerOfRural is to join the Rural Medical Education (RME) Collaborative for the Fall 2025 Rural Health Clinical Congress on Saturday, November 15. This free, interactive, multi-topic virtual conference is designed specifically for clinicians who serve patients in rural communities (CME/CE available). Register here.

Events to Bookmark in 2025

October

November