Telehealth Policy

Megan Duet — Thu, 19 Jan 2017 19:53:06 +0000

Every year state legislators and Members of Congress make decisions on health policy to help keep people healthy. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), health care accounts for about one-third of a state’s budget. The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities explains that spending on Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Affordable Care Act make up one-fourth of the federal budget. Now, these healthcare policy discussions include telehealth, as there is a growing interest in telehealth to improve access to care as well as improve health delivery and outcomes. Telehealth policy changes are being considered in state legislatures across the country, as well as the Congress. It is important for leaders in telehealth to stay involved and informed of anticipated healthcare policy changes in 2017.

Educate yourself

Make sure you are aware of your state’s current telehealth policy. Use resources such as the Center for Connected Health Policy to understand the changes that are needed in your state to improve telehealth policy and practice. It is important to stay informed of any proposed telehealth legislation during legislative session. Lastly, develop relationships with healthcare staffers in your congressional offices. This will help position your organization to be a resource for telehealth policy proposals presented in the future.

Demonstrate the need for Telehealth

In order to make a positive change in telehealth policy, we must demonstrate why telehealth is needed. From a federal perspective, Congressional leaders will be interested in data and outcomes associated with improving patient care, improving access to care, improving health outcomes and reductions in healthcare costs and ED utilization. Any cost-savings information is crucial to the future of state and federal policy change.

Take Action

Help spread the word by talking with your U.S. Senators and Representatives about supporting telehealth in the 115th Congress. This beginning of the new Congress and the new Presidential Administration offer a wonderful opportunity to remind your congressional leadership about the impact of telehealth in your state and why it should be a priority in the 115th Congress.

Stay Abreast to Healthcare Updates

It is important to stay attuned to healthcare updates in Congress. Follow your members of Congress on social media such as Twitter. This will keep you informed and up to date on any major changes affecting telehealth policy at the state or federal level.

Resources

Center for Connected Health Policy – http://www.telehealthpolicy.us/
Center for Connected Health Policy -http://www.telehealthpolicy.us/state-laws-and-reimbursement-policies
National Conference of State Legislatures
Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
For additional federal and state updates, subscribe to the Center for Connected Health Policy newsletter.
For regional news and updates in Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee, subscribe to receive the SCTRC regular newsletter updates at LearnTelehealth.org.

The post Telehealth Policy appeared first on LearnTelehealth.

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM): Enabling Patient Care Outside of the Clinic

Megan Duet — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 19:01:29 +0000

Chronic diseases are costly, but preventable health challenges facing our nation with particular impact on poor, rural Americans who lack access to healthcare. According to the CDC, more than 75% of the nation’s health care costs are due to chronic conditions, equal to more than $26 billion each year.¹^,² Additionally, medical costs associated with chronic health conditions are expected to increase by nearly 70% between 2010 and 2020. Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) can conveniently increase access, decrease cost of care, and improve outcomes for chronic disease patients by bringing healthcare resources into the home.

What is RPM?

RPM is chronic disease management in the home via technology that enables patients to monitor their diseases and securely transfer daily health data to health care providers. Some of the most common chronic diseases benefitting from RPM are hypertension, diabetes, COPD and asthma. The technology used in the home is specialized for the particular disease being monitored and comes in a variety of wired or wireless peripheral measurement devices, including blood pressure cuffs, glucometers and pulse oximeters. Some technologies also allow live, 2-way, audio-visual interaction between the patients and healthcare provider. RPM programs can be used to collect a range of health data, including biometrics and medication compliance. Patients are also provided with targeted, evidence based educational information that allows patients to better manage their diseases.

Why use RPM?

Daily interaction between the patient and healthcare provider has shown to increase patient engagement and change behaviors. The integrated model of care has allowed health care providers to provide real-time feedback or intervention when a problem arises. Bringing a multi-disciplinary team of healthcare resources into the home extends the level of care given in the primary care setting. RPM can be used to decrease healthcare disparities, improve management for chronic diseases and reduce the overall cost of care by decreasing ER and hospital admissions and readmissions.

How it works?

Dr. Wilson’s CHF patients living in Iuka, Mississippi use an iPad mini and Bluetooth-enabled blood pressure cuff and scale at home. The peripherals send the data automatically via a secured internet connection to the RN Care Coordinator at UMMC in Jackson (250 miles away) to evaluate the blood pressure and weight remotely. The RN Care Coordinator reviews the data and contacts the patient to discuss responses in daily health session questions and review biometrics. If needed, the RN Care Coordinator will intervene or connect the patient with another member of their care team. Nobody has to take off work or arrange for transportation, but rather perform the brief but important test in the comfort of their own home.

Resources

Successful RPM Program: UMMC Center for Telehealth | UMMC telehealth enters next chapter of remote patient monitoring
Blood Pressure Monitors for Mobile Health (2012) – Webinar presented by the Telehealth Technology Assessment Center
Telehealth Technology Assessment Center – Telehealth technology assessment with unbiased product ratings and reviews

[1] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. 2009. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publicaions/aag/chronic.htm.
[2] Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic disease overview: Costs of chronic disease. 2012. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/overview.htm.
[3] Ibid.