Rural Spotlight

RTRC Telehealth Policy Brief Highlights Need for More Health Equity Focused Research

January 7, 2025

RTRC Telehealth Policy Brief Highlights Need for More Health Equity Focused Research

In December 2024, the Rural Telehealth Research Center (RTRC) released a Research and Policy Brief titled, The Role of Relaxed Telehealth Policy on Health Equity in Telehealth Utilization and Outcomes During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency: A Living Systematic Review.

The brief underscores the significant telehealth policy changes that have occurred since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic as the foundation for enabling the ability to better understand the variety of implications of increased telehealth use, such as access to care, health outcomes, and cost. For this study in particular, the RTRC sought to conduct a systematic review of the ways in which telehealth has been shown to address health disparities.

Click Here to read Policy Brief

Upcoming Webinar – Breaking Down Barriers to Telehealth: How the Digital Health Readiness Screener Can Drive Equity and Access, January 16

January 7, 2025

Upcoming Webinar – Breaking Down Barriers to Telehealth: How the Digital Health Readiness Screener Can Drive Equity and Access, January 16

In this session, discover how the new Digital Health Readiness Screener from Thomas Jefferson University is making a difference in telehealth access by identifying key barriers faced by diverse patient populations.

The webinar will explore how the screener assesses technical readiness and quality of care concerns, including digital literacy, privacy, and trust in telehealth. Consider joining this webinar to learn how this tool can support targeted interventions and help advance digital health equity across healthcare settings.

Cost: Free

When: Thursday, January 16, 1:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Patient Resource: Can I Use Telehealth for Emergency Care?

January 7, 2025

Patient Resource: Can I Use Telehealth for Emergency Care?

There are many ways that telehealth can help with emergency medical care. Share this resource with patients so they can learn the ways that telehealth can support care during medical emergencies.

Topics Covered:

  • How is telehealth used in emergencies?
  • What are the benefits of telehealth for emergency care?
  • What do I need to use telehealth?
  • How do I prepare for my telehealth appointment?

Click Here to learn more

Creating an Emergency Plan for Regular Telehealth Visits

January 7, 2025

Creating an Emergency Plan for Regular Telehealth Visits

Planning can go a long way to prepare you for an emergency situation during a telemedicine or telehealth appointment and set expectations with your patients.

With telehealth, you’re seeing patients outside of the safety and control of your office. An emergency situation may arise from a wide range of causes, including a mental health crisis, stroke/heart attack, overdose, etc.

Click Here to learn how to plan for an emergency situation during a telehealth appointment.

Click Here to Read Patient Safety and Emergency Management from the American Psychiatric Association

Federal legislation continues to expand and extend telehealth services. Click Here to read more

Telehealth for Emergency Preparedness Best Practice Guide

January 7, 2025

Telehealth for Emergency Preparedness Best Practice Guide

Telehealth is important to providing medical care during an emergency, such as a pandemic or natural disaster. Providers can use telehealth to perform quick assessments, triage patients, and deliver patient care. Integrating telehealth into emergency preparedness plans is essential.

This best practice guide provides detailed information and resources on using telehealth for emergency preparedness.

Click Here to View the Best Practice Guide

Telehealth Policy Update

January 7, 2025

Telehealth Policy Update

Recent legislation authorized an extension of many of the Medicare telehealth flexibilities. This includes:

  • Waiving geographic and originating site requirements through March 31, 2025,
  • Expanding practitioners eligible to furnish telehealth services through March 31, 2025,
  • Allowing Federally Qualified Health Centers and Rural Health Clinics to serve as distant site providers through March 31, 2025,
  • Delaying in-person requirements for tele-mental health services through April 1, 2025, and
  • Allowing audio-only telehealth through March 31, 2025.

Other recent updates include Medicare telehealth policies in the Calendar Year 2025 Physician Fee Schedule and a temporary extension for prescribing controlled substances via telehealth.

Click Here to see legislation

Click Here to see Calendar Year 2025 Physician Fee Schedule

Click Here to see temporary extension for prescribing controlled substances via telehealth

Federal Grant Bootcamp, February 3-7

January 6, 2025

Federal Grant Bootcamp, February 3-7

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA’s) Minority Colleges, Universities, and Community Colleges (MCU-CC) Technical Assistance (TA) initiative is hosting a Federal Grants Bootcamp to help community-based organizations (CBOs) understand, apply for, and manage federal funding.

Why You Should Attend:

The Federal Grants Bootcamp provides a foundational overview of the federal grants process and completion of the five-day Bootcamp unlocks opportunities for additional TA (all offered virtually) including:

  • Mentor-protégé communities of practice (CoPs);
  • Monthly Chat ‘n Chew sessions;
  • Regional Roundtable conferences; and
  • Access to HRSA’s on-demand resource library

This five-day Bootcamp is free and focuses on the unique needs of community-based organizations. Current and prospective HRSA grantees from community-based organizations are encouraged to register and attend. The event is also open to other MCU-CCs as well.

Cost: Free

When: February 3 – 7, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Click Here to Register

Application Now Open for Rural Community Hospitals to Participate in Demonstration Program

January 3, 2025

Application Now Open for Rural Community Hospitals to Participate in Demonstration Program

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is now accepting new applications for the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration. The demonstration tests cost-based reimbursement for Medicare inpatient services for small rural hospitals with fewer than 51 beds that are not eligible to be Critical Access Hospitals.

As part of a broader rural strategy initiative, CMS hosted a Rural Health Hackathon in August 2024 to collaboratively produce creative, actionable ideas to address health care challenges facing rural communities. This Request for Applications (RFA) is one effort to help address these challenges.

The RFA is open and available on Rural Community Hospital Demonstration webpage. Hospitals interested must apply by 11:59 Eastern Standard Time on March 1, 2025. Hospitals currently participating in the demonstration do not need to complete a new application.

For the latest information on the demonstration, visit the Rural Community Hospital Demonstration webpage.

If you have questions about the demonstration, please email RCHDemo@cms.hhs.gov.

RHIhub This Week Now Available

January 3, 2025

RHIhub This Week Now Available

RHIhub This Week keeps you informed of the latest rural news, funding opportunities, publications and events.

Click Here to Access RHIhub This Week