...hire psychologists and other experts who specialize in mental and behavioral health, residents in these communities still need — and deserve — this type of care. There are efforts underway to address this issue and expand access, specifically with technology tools that can be used in rural communities to support mental and behavioral health issues. Some of these technology tools include the following: Access to Broadband: One challenge in rural areas is limited broadband internet access, which can make it difficult to access online mental health resources, telemedicine services, and other technology tools. According to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC),... Continue Reading
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News roundup: UHG closes $5.4B LHC deal, Teladoc’s record $13.7B ’22 loss, Olive AI divesting UM, Cigna exec can’t join CVS, VA anti-suicide program awards, Equiva-Infiniti ACP initiative, Newel Health’s Parkinson’s device
...Finance News, Healthcare Dive Some blue side up news: Mission Daybreak Grand Challenge awarded by the VA. 10 companies were awarded $20 million to pursue digital health approaches to prevent veteran suicide as part of a 10-year VA initiative. The first-place winners were Stop Soldier Suicide and Televeda, awarded $3 million each. Healthcare IT News has additional details on all the finalists. Digital health is leveraging an existing $14.2 billion FCC initiative called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Two companies, Equiva Health, a digital patient engagement and health relationship management solution provider, is partnering with internet provider Infiniti Mobile to... Continue Reading
Congress calls to extend PHE telehealth flexibilities; FCC’s $48M telehealth funding boost, telehealth’s shortcomings in pediatric asthma treatment
...D-Hawaii, and Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi. Oh yes, the power of a letter to the House and Senate majority and minority leaders (sigh!) Meanwhile, the CONNECT for Health Act and the Telehealth Modernization Act have languished for months in the Senate Finance committee and in House Ways and Means. Healthcare IT News Over at the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), they’re doling out the sixth and final tranche of $47.89 million to 100 provider and community health organizations that applied to the COVID-19 Telehealth Program. The total FCC funding in this round 2 was $249.95 million that built on funding that was... Continue Reading
US FCC releases Round 2 of the Connected Care Pilot Program with 36 projects
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has awarded another round of the Connected Care Pilot Program. Funds are awarded to 36 projects in underserved geographies, such as rural and Indian Tribal areas, plus to groups such as veterans, the disabled, children, and older adults. A brief sample of the awardees includes Yale New Haven Health System (four projects), Catholic Health Initiative (36 sites in the Midwest), Heritage Clinic (CA), Hudson Headwaters Health Network (upstate NY), Johns Hopkins (Baltimore), and the Universities of Kentucky, Florida, and Hawaii. The original Connected Care Pilot Program started in 2019 [TTA 20 June 2019]. It... Continue Reading
News and deal roundup: Zus Health’s $34M ‘back-end in a box’, Bright Health’s IPO, Lyra Health’s $200M done, Valo Health’s $2.8B SPAC; UK’s Alcuris, Clarity Informatics, GTX test; Google’s health blues, Facebook’s smartwatch
...of its new Cat M1 LTE SmartSoles with Possum UK. This is to qualify for CE certification. Connectivity providers in UK and Europe are Orange and Telefónica for connectivity. GTX is also testing SmartSoles in the US and Canada for FCC and IC certification with Verizon, as well as Europe and Australia. The SmartSole is designed for non-invasive tracking of those with dementia and autism. Street Insider. Hat tip for these two from a UK ‘insider’ Reader who remains anonymous. USA: The FDA rejected Alphabet/Google’s Verily application for the Virtual Motor Exam for Parkinson’s Disease. According to Mobihealthnews, the VME... Continue Reading
While telehealth virtual office visits flatten, overall up 300-fold; FCC finalizes COVID-19 telehealth funding program (US)
...final tranche consisted of 25 applications for the remaining $10.73 million, with a final total of 539 funding applications up to the authorized $200 million. Applicants came from 47 states, Washington, DC, and Guam. FCC release. To no one’s surprise, 40 Congresscritters want to extend it as a ‘bold step’ but are first demanding that Chair Ajit Pai do handsprings and provide all sorts of information on the reimbursement program which does not provide upfront money but reimburses eligible expenditures. That will take a few months. You’d think they’d read a few things on the FCC website first. mHealth Intelligence... Continue Reading
Do Huawei and ZTE present security threats to the US and global communications networks? The FCC says yes.
In two little-noted decisions formally announced yesterday (30 June), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) banned the funding by the FCC Universal Service Fund (USF) of the purchase or use of equipment or services provided by China’s Huawei and ZTE. The USF funds rural internet, Lifeline for low-income consumers, Indian Tribal initiatives, schools and libraries, and the Rural Health Care program–a substantial part of the national network which will also discourage private companies from use of their equipment as Verizon, Sprint, et al participate in these programs. Both Huawei and ZTE have been found by the US government–and many others–to be... Continue Reading
FCC approves 70 more COVID-19 telehealth funding applications for an additional $32 million
The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) today (1 July) approved 70 additional applications for funding telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. This funding covers both urban and rural providers, from large health systems to local community health centers. The funds for this thirteenth group totals $31.63 million of the $189.27 million in total funds awarded. To date, the FCC’s COVID-19 Telehealth Program, authorized by the CARES Act, has approved 514 funding applications in 46 states plus Washington, D.C. Equipment covered includes telehealth, computers, smartphones, tablets, remote patient monitoring equipment, and software. A small sample of this group of healthcare organizations: Avera... Continue Reading
FCC opens application window for $200 million telehealth cost reimbursement program
...do that, there’s several pre-requirements typical of any Federal program: Obtain an FCC Registration Number (FRN) from the Commission Registration System (CORES), as well as a CORES username and password at that link. An FRN is a 10-digit number that is assigned to a business or individual registering with the FCC and is used to identify the registrant’s business dealings with the FCC. Obtain an eligibility determination from the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) by filing FCC Form 460 through My Portal on USAC’s webpage. (Filers do not need to be rural health care providers in order to file Form... Continue Reading
After the COVID Deluge: a Topol-esque view of what (tele)medicine will look like
...done a creditable job in broadening reimbursement for telehealth a/v and telephonic services, but coding remains a nightmare for practices struggling to remain open and with some lights on. After COVID, will CMS and HHS get religion, or put it right back in its rural bottle? Covered in the CARES Act passed at the close of March, $200 million sounds like a lot from the FCC to bankroll telecom equipment for providers, but these funds will go quickly. At least they are not delayed in endless rule making, as the Connected Care Pilot Program has been for two years. Mobihealthnews... Continue Reading
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