Resources & Reports

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR)recently released guidance on the use of remote communication technologies for audio-only telehealth to assist health care providers and health plans, or covered entities, bound by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules (HIPAA Rules). The goal of the guidance as stated by OCR is to support continued access to audio-only telehealth post-public health emergency (PHE) and make clear that audio-only telehealth is permissible under HIPAA Rules.

CCHP’s June Newsletter is Here! This month’s topics include: Emerging Features of New Telehealth Laws; Revision to Chronic Care Management Services Manual; End of SNF In-Person Visit Requirement Waiver; PHE Likely Extended Due to No 60-day Notice; HRSA National Telehealth Conference – Recorded Sessions Now Available; HealthNet Report on Innovations in Medi-Cal (CA Medicaid); Telehealth Funding for Title X Family Planning Program. 

Telehealth legislation continues to be introduced at the federal level, including the recently released Telemental Health Access to Care Act and the Connecting Rural Telehealth to the Future Act. On May 26^th a bipartisan group of several U.S. Senators put out a discussion draft of the Telemental Health Access to Care Act as part of the Senate Finance Committee’s work regarding improving mental health access through telehealth. The bill would require Medicare coverage of mental health visits via telehealth by providers, including Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) in certain instances.