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  • Oct 24, 2024

    October Newsletter - Telehealth News, Resources, and Events!

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    October 23, 2024
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    Top Telehealth News
    DEA Sends 3rd Temporary Extension of Telemedicine Prescribing Rules to White House (Source: Fierce Healthcare) The Drug Enforcement Administration is poised to extend pandemic-era telehealth prescribing rules for a third time. The agency sent a rule titled third temporary extension of pandemic-era telehealth prescribing rules to the White House’s Office of Management and Budget (OMB) last Thursday. Rules must clear OMB review before being published in the Federal Register.

    Lawmakers Calls for Extending Telemedicine Flexibilities, Object to Proposed DEA Rule (Source: The Hill)  Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the House and Senate are calling for COVID-era flexibilities on telemedicine services to be extended to ensure access to “necessary and life-saving treatments,” and are speaking out against a proposed rule reportedly being advanced by the DEA that would limit telemedicine prescribing.

    Understanding Telehealth Prescribing: Pros, Cons and DEA Rules (Source: TechTarget) Telehealth prescribing is top-of-mind among healthcare stakeholders as the industry waits with bated breath to see if the pandemic-era regulatory flexibilities will be extended beyond 2024. Telehealth-based prescribing offers quick and convenient access to lifesaving medications. 

    Rural Healthcare Needs More Than Just Telehealth (Source: MedCity News) When you take a job in healthcare, whether it be a nurse, a physician, or a data analyst, you want to help people. Healthcare’s ultimate goal is to help people live healthier and happier lives. But not all lives receive equal care. The variables of accessing and providing care are innumerable in the United States. One of those barriers to care is living in a rural area, where one out of every five Americans lives.
    New Resources from the TRCs!
    Consumer Broadband Factsheet
    Created by NCTRC
    The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers (NCTRC) developed a new Consumer Broadband Factsheet. Reliable and affordable internet access is essential for consumers and patients who need to access digital health resources. This fact sheet provides an overview to help consumers understand broadband internet and its role in digital health, addressing common questions such as:
    • What is broadband?
    • What is digital health?
    • Why is broadband important for digital health?
    • How can I determine if my internet is fast enough for digital health needs?
    • What should I do if I don’t have internet access?
    For more information, view the full factsheet. 
    Cross-State Licensure Court Cases Webinar
    Created by CCHP
    The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) hosted their second webinar, entitled Cross-State Licensure Court Cases, as part of their policy webinar series. This webinar discussed recently filed court cases that challenge the constitutionality of state licensure requirements on the use of telehealth. Speakers examined what the plaintiffs in the case are arguing, the potential impacts of the cases if they are decided in or not in the plaintiff’s favor and what could happen in the future regarding licensure. For more information, view the webinar recording and powerpoint. 
    Upcoming Events!
    Puerto Rico Digital Health & Telemedicine Conference 2024

    The upcoming Digital Health Conference, hosted by Impactivo in partnership with the Southeast Telehealth Resource Center and the Global Partnership for Telehealth, promises to be an exciting event for the future of digital healthcare. Set to gather a diverse group of thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators, the conference will offer an in-depth exploration of emerging technologies, best practices, and strategies in telehealth. Attendees can look forward to engaging keynote presentations, interactive workshops, and panel discussions focused on enhancing digital health solutions, overcoming implementation challenges, and improving patient outcomes. This collaborative event aims to foster connections and drive forward-thinking discussions, with a goal of advancing the global adoption of digital health tools and practices. 

    For more information about exhibiting and presenting at this conference, please email info@setrc.us for more details. 
    REGISTER HERE
    ATA's EDGE Policy Conference 2024: The Telehealth Policy Imperative

    At the American Telemedicine Association's EDGE2024 Policy Conference, we’ll take a moment to celebrate our telehealth policy successes and keep a keen eye towards the new year and new state and federal policy challenges that will face our industry. This year’s event will bring into focus the dynamic nature of telehealth policy and an unpredictable political environment, as we build the forward-thinking strategies needed to continually pivot and adapt to evolving legislative priorities. Join us to explore innovative approaches, anticipate future trends, and shape policies that will ensure the sustained growth and success of telehealth in an ever-changing healthcare landscape.
    REGISTER HERE
    Telehealth Blog Post
    The Telehealth Resource Centers are excited to share blog posts providing a detailed account of a specific use of telehealth in the real world. 
    From the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC)
     
    Interstate Compacts: What You Need to Know Now
     
    Telehealth continues to revolutionize healthcare delivery, but its availability is not yet ubiquitous.  Regulations that require healthcare and allied health providers to obtain separate licenses (each requiring investment of significant time, effort, and money) in each state in which they choose to provide services can be a barrier to patients receiving healthcare via telehealth from specialists and/or their established providers located in a different state. Interstate licensure compacts are offering a streamlined approach to state licensure for providers, enabling them to deliver care via telehealth to patients in those states that have adopted the respective compact.

    Compact Websites
    https://www.aprncompact.com/about.page#map
    https://aslpcompact.com/compact-map/
    https://counselingcompact.org/map/
    https://ddhcompact.org/compact-map/
    https://www.emacweb.org/index.php
    https://www.emscompact.gov/ 
    http://www.healthcarecompact.org/
    https://schoolpsychcompact.org/compact-map/
    https://aaicama.org/member-states/
    https://www.imlcc.org/participating-states/
    https://www.nursecompact.com/
    https://otcompact.org/compact-map/
    https://www.pacompact.org/ 
    https://ptcompact.org/ptc-states
    https://psypact.org/mpage/psypactmap
    https://swcompact.org/compact-map/
     
    Numerous healthcare and allied health interstate compacts are available for states to join.  Healthcare related compacts that have been adopted by states in the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center’s region are listed below. 

    Arizona
    Healthcare Related Compact Name Year Joined
    Counseling Compact* 2024
    Emergency Management Assistance Compact 2000
    Interstate Medical Licensure Compact 2016
    Nurse Licensure Compact 2016
    Occupational Therapy Licensure Compact 2022
    Physical Therapy Licensure Compact 2016
    Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact 2016
    Social Work Licensure Compact 2024

    * The Counseling Compact is not yet issuing practice privileges. It is expected to start in 2025 once the necessary

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