Resources & Reports

CCHP’s October Newsletter is Here! This month’s topics include: Controlled Substance Prescribing During COVID-19 PHE and Cases of Pharmacy Prescription Rejections; New Medicare Telehealth Claims Data and CMS Trends Snapshot Report; New Report on Telehealth and Children of Color with Special Health Care Needs; Latest Policy Developments in CCHP’s Telehealth Policy Finder and Policy Trends Map; TRICARE Telehealth Policy Changes; HIPAA Covered Entity Decision Tool; Two Studies Address Telehealth Use During Pandemic for Opioid Use Disorder & Out-Of-State Telehealth; CCHP Fall 2022 Webinar Series Coming Later This Month. 

Last week the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report to Congress regarding telehealth in Medicare, recommending additional actions related to increasing oversight and provider/patient education. Citing stakeholder interest in making pandemic telehealth expansions permanent, the GAO stressed the need for the report as a means to caution lawmakers around the potential for abuse, fraud, and privacy issues.

Earlier this month the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) released draft telehealth policy guidance, Draft Scope of Project and Telehealth Policy Information Notice (Telehealth PIN), for HRSA-funded health centers and Health Center Program look-alikes. The guidance includes considerations and criteria for health centers to meet in order to provide telehealth services to patients. HRSA is inviting public feedback and comment on the Draft Telehealth PIN until mid-November.

Cross-state practice issues have become a source of great confusion during the pandemic for both providers and patients. Generally, telehealth is considered to occur at the physical location of the patient, requiring a provider to have a license to practice in the state where the patient is located, or fall under a licensure exception or participate in an eligible licensing compact in the patient’s state.