AHA shares recommendations for improving, expanding access to telehealth

Apr 02, 2019 - 02:51 PM

The AHA today shared with House and Senate members of the Congressional Telehealth Caucus recommendations for improving and expanding access to telehealth. 
 
“Overall, the AHA appreciates your focus on expanding and improving access to telehealth services for patients,” AHA said in a response to a letter from the caucus seeking suggestions for potential legislation on the issue. “The recent changes made to Medicare coverage of telehealth are promising, but more can be done to build on this progress.”
 
Among other telehealth recommendations, AHA urged Congress to expand Medicare coverage; resolve legal and regulatory challenges; increase federal research regarding the cost-benefits of telehealth and add flexibility in new payment models; and improve the Federal Communications Commission Rural Health Care Program.
 
AHA also shared examples of how hospitals and health systems are using telehealth to improve care and lower costs, including through “hospital-at-home” programs.

Related News Articles

Headline
HRSA awards $19 million in grants for telehealth services
The Health Resources and Services Administration announced Sept. 22 that it will award $19 million in grants to expand various telehealth learning services.…
Headline
Webinar to discuss care models for nursing that deliver beyond traditional acute care settings
The AHA’s American Organization for Nursing Leadership will host a webinar Sept. 2 at noon ET for nursing leaders on two care models: integrated hospital-at-…
Headline
AHA podcast breaks down ‘phygital ecosystem’ on better patient care 
In this conversation, Jennifer Bollinger, chief consumer and brand officer at Sutter Health, discusses how a “phygital ecosystem” approach creates a seamless…
Headline
Webinar to explore how virtual nursing can impact patient flow
The AHA’s Hospital Capacity Management Consortium will host a webinar Aug. 12 at 1 p.m. ET on how virtual nursing models can improve hospital throughput,…
Blog
Setting the Record Straight: Three Ways the Hospital‑blame Narrative Gets it Wrong
Public
A May 4 guest essay published in The New York Times frames hospitals as the leading “culprit” behind rising health care costs. It reduces a complex health…
Perspective
At AHA’s Annual Membership Meeting, Uniting to Protect Access to Care
Public
Just 23 days from now, more than 1,000 hospital and health system leaders from across the country will arrive in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 AHA Annual…