The reason that telehealth usage among seniors in Medicare is almost non-existent is because the rules were written at a time when telehealth was used primarily to provide access to care for rural patients. To access a physician remotely, Medicare beneficiaries have to be in a rural area and in an “originating site” defined as… Read more »
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Telehealth: An Important Tool in Achieving the Goals of the ACO Program and Why Restrictions Should Be Lifted in Final ACO Rule
In the recently released proposed rule related to the accountable care organization (ACO) program1 (or Medicare Shared Savings Program, as it is formally known), the CMS contemplated allowing ACOs to utilize and be reimbursed for an important tool in better coordinating care, engaging patients, delivering services efficiently, and reducing costs: telehealth. Congress adopted the ACO… Read more »
It’s Time to Focus on the Value of Medicare Advantage
As a Democratic staffer in the Senate during the debate and passage of the Medicare Modernization Act in 2003, I was concerned about private plans getting more involved in Medicare. Why were we going to pay commercial plans to do what Medicare does? Would favorable risk be taken out of the Medicare risk pool? Would… Read more »
How Telemedicine Could be More Helpful in the Ebola Outbreak
As Congress examines the U.S. public health system’s response to Ebola this week, we need to take a look at laws and regulations that inhibit better treatment and increase protection for health care workers. Existing rules and regulations around telemedicine are one such example. News outlets have been chronicling the heroics of healthcare workers across… Read more »
Trio of Health Care Lobbyists Leave DLA Piper to Form Sirona Strategies
The Washington Post reports three of DLA Piper’s health care lobbyists have left to form Sirona Strategies, a new health care consulting group that will specialize in health care business policy, regulatory, legislative and communications strategy. Read Article
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