Telehealth Interests Decry Delays in HCF Discounts

filing posted Thursday in docket 17-310. SHLB said it also discussed the need to extend the 2019 deadline to apply. John Graham, senior investigator at the University of North Carolina North Carolina Institute for Public Health and who represented the North Carolina Telehealth Network, mentioned how important telemental health services are to preventing drug abuse and suicide in three counties served by a single remaining hospital. Graham said a health department had to suspend some critical clinical and preventive services due to the FY 2018 funding delays from HCF, which helps support needed broadband connectivity. Others attending the May 10 meeting included the New England Telehealth Consortium, Connections Telehealth Consortium, Alaska Communications, California Telehealth Network and Telehealth Funding Connection. The groups mentioned a recent GAO report that Medicare Advantage participants would save an expected $560 million over 10 years through a pending rule change by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that would increase the use of telemedicine and telehealth services: "A robust and well-funded" RHC "is needed to fully realize these and similar savings possible through increased telehealth."