A new bill before Congress aims to allow healthcare providers to use telehealth in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) programs for substance abuse and provide Medicare coverage for audio-only phone calls. The Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA) 2.0 bill increases funding authorization levels established in the original CARA legislation in 2016 adding measures to tackle the growing opioid abuse crisis.
The 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, unveiled on Tuesday by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, aims to build upon the momentum for telehealth adoption seen during this year’s coronavirus pandemic. With health systems and hospitals rapidly embracing connected health, the agency has been under pressure to improve access and reimbursement guidelines.
The AMA established the BHI Collaborative with seven other leading medical associations to integrate behavioral and mental health care into primary care practices. The goal is for the patient to receive mental health care within the primary care office, whether from a psychiatrist, other mental health professional or a combination in a team-based care approach.
The integration of behavioral health and primary care services improves patient care and outcomes and can be financially sustainable for practices that rely on fee for service (FFS), value-based care (VBC) payments, or some combination thereof.
The American Medical Association this week resolved to continue advocating for telehealth after the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly among underserved communities. After physicians and medical students gathered virtually for five days, delegates adopted a policy directing the AMA to continue working with legislators and regulators to support telehealth advancements.
Jacob Reider, M.D., CEO of the Alliance for Better Health and former acting national coordinator for health IT, said during an event hosted by Fierce Healthcare that public health organizations need to be a part of the conversation, but it's crucial to be cognizant of where they are in terms of ability to share data.
The coronavirus vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech was strongly effective in preventing COVID-19 among study volunteers given the shot, early results announced by the companies Monday show, giving a pandemic-wracked world a glimpse of life after quarantines, travel restrictions, masks and school closures.
CMS said Wednesday that "most private health plans" will berequired to cover an approved COVID-19 vaccine and its administration with no cost-sharing from in-network and out-of-network providers once the shot is recommended by a CDC panel. This was mandated by Congress in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act passed in March. Medicare will also cover a future vaccine at no cost to beneficiaries and...
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began using its new electronic health record (EHR) system Oct. 24 at select VA facilities in the Pacific Northwest and Las Vegas, marking the beginning of a transformation in how VA delivers care to Veterans.
CMS said Wednesday it isadding 11 new virtual care servicesfor the first time in five months, including cardiac and pulmonary rehab. Since the emergency wasdeclared in March, the agency has added more than 135 new virtual care services to what's covered under fee-for-service Medicare, including ER visits and initial inpatient and nursing facility visits.
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