Definitions
Telehealth can be a cost-effective alternative to face-to-face in-person encounters under several circumstances, including where access to care is compromised due to the lack of available service providers in the patient’s geographical location. This definition is modeled on Medicare’s definition of telehealth services located at 42 CFR §410.78. Note that the Federal Medicaid statute (Title XIX of the Social Security Act) does not recognize telehealth as a distinct service.
For purposes of DMAP, telehealth means the use of information and communication technologies consisting of telephones, remote patient monitoring devices, or other electronic means to provide or support health care delivery. It occurs when the patient is at an originating site and the health care provider is at a distant site.
Telemedicine is a subset of telehealth that is the delivery of clinical health care and other services, as authorized under Delaware Medicaid, by means of real-time two-way electronic interactive telecommunications system between the patient at the originating site and the health care provider is at the distant site. Two-way electronic interactive communications systems include audio, visual, or other telecommunication or electronic communication, including the application of secure video conferencing or store and forward transfer technology. Telemedicine facilitates the assessment, diagnosis, consultation, treatment, education, care management, and self-management of a patient’s health.
Interactive Communication is defined as telehealth delivered using multimedia communication technology that permits 2-way, real-time, interactive communications between a health care provider at a distant site and the patient at the originating site.
“Telemedicine is the use of medical or behavioral health information exchanged from one site to another via an electronic interactive telecommunications system to improve a patient’s health. Telemedicine services are provided with specialized equipment at each site including real-time streaming via the use of:
- Video Camera
- Audio Equipment
- Monitor
- The telecommunications must permit real-time encryption of the interactive audio and video exchanges with the consulting provider.”
Personal Assistance Services Agencies, Home Health Agencies and Aides
“Telehealth Mechanism” means the use of information exchange from 1 site to another via an electronic interactive telecommunication system. Telehealth is provided with specialized equipment at each site including real-time streaming via the use of video streaming and audio equipment. The telecommunications must permit real-time encryption of the interactive audio and video exchanges with the personal assistance services agency.
SOURCE: 16 DE Admin. Code 3345, 3350, 3351. (Accessed Mar. 2025).
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