02/03/2012
Sen. Tom Udall plans on introducing a bill that would make it easier for physicians to practice telemedicine in different states. Currently, physicians must apply for a different license in each state where patients are treated remotely. The bill would streamline licensure portability between states by creating a standardized list of credentialed practitioners. Government Health IT.
02/03/2012
HHS has released a progress report on its efforts to reduce regulatory burdens. The agency said it is working to boost efficiency through rules that would improve patient access to test results and ease requirements for telehealth providers. AHA News, FierceHealthIT.
02/02/2012
Using an online "virtual coach" helped overweight individuals engage in physical activity more often than those without access to online coaching, according to a study by the Center for Connected Health and Massachusetts General Hospital. Healthcare IT News, MobiHealthNews.
01/20/2012
A report by 2020health calls for the United Kingdom's National Health Service to establish a telehealth system that builds on the experiences of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The report calls VA "the world's No. 1 provider of telehealth at scale." Modern Healthcare.
01/19/2012
The Department of Defense's National Center for Telehealth and Technology has launched a website to help children of deployed military personnel cope with stress. The site provides educational videos and forums to help children share their experiences. Modern Healthcare.
01/19/2012
Licensing and reimbursement issues are hindering widespread adoption of robotic telehealth systems, according to a new study published in Telemedicine and e-Health. Researchers say new regulatory models, payment mechanisms and educational programs are needed. CMIO.
01/18/2012
Patients who have live, interactive telemedicine consultations with dermatologists could receive better treatment and have better outcomes, according to a study. About 69% of patients who had at least two such visits in a year saw clinical improvements. Modern Healthcare, FierceHealthIT.
01/13/2012
The Department of Veterans Affairs has expanded its fleet of mobile health centers from 50 to 70 vehicles that are equipped with telehealth technology to provide care to veterans in rural areas. The vehicles also allow for access to VA's VistA electronic health record system. NextGov.
01/09/2012
About 79% of intensive care unit nurses who responded to an online survey say it is important to be acquainted with the physician who is on call for telehealth consultations, and 72% say they believe that telehealth services improve ICU patients' survival rate. MedPage Today.
01/06/2012
A Frost & Sullivan report predicts that the remote health monitoring market will reach $294.9 million by 2015. A separate report from Berg Insight predicts that there will be 2.47 million remote monitoring devices with cellular connectivity by 2016. Becker's Hospital Review et al.
01/04/2012
The American Telemedicine Association is urging CMS to revise Medicare's conditions of participation to better support the use of telehealth services in hospitals. ATA said such changes would benefit health care providers, hospitals and patients. Modern Healthcare, ATA letter.
12/19/2011
The American Telemedicine Association has developed a legislative proposal urging the federal government to expand Medicaid coverage to include telehealth services for women with high-risk pregnancies. According to ATA, an Avalere Health memorandum estimates that the proposal would reduce federal Medicaid spending by as much as $186 million over 10 years. Modern Healthcare, ATA release.
12/19/2011
Many people with disabilities are connecting with each other through online support groups and social networking tools. In Virginia, state leaders are considering ways to replicate a program that offers virtual group therapy sessions through online video chats. Roanoke Times.
12/16/2011
A new study by researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston finds that only 12% of surveyed breast cancer survivors said that "virtual" consultations with a physician or nurse conducted over the phone or Internet would reduce their cancer-related worries. Reuters.
12/12/2011
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced nearly $30.2 million in grants to help fund 100 telehealth and distance learning projects in 34 states and the Northern Mariana Islands territory. Several of the grants will go toward projects aimed at using telemonitoring technology to provide health care services to people in rural areas of the country. Bangor Daily News et al.