Virtual health care, or telehealth, has become essential during the COVID-19 crisis. But what is it, exactly, and how can you implement it successfully? Here’s what you need to know:
Why is telehealth relevant to me?
As the COVID-19 pandemic has spread throughout the U.S., health care providers have found themselves in need of remote solutions in order to safely provide patients with necessary care. Telehealth – in other words, video conferencing between health care providers and patients – allows people to receive medical treatment without the risk of disease transmission. This shift to virtual health care will likely outlive the current pandemic; many providers have invested in long-term telehealth solutions to better reach rural and underserved populations in need of care.
What funding options do I have for telehealth?
The recently-implemented CARES act provides several options for telehealth funding. $180,000,000 was recently allocated to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to support telehealth activities meant to “prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.” In addition, grant programs supporting telehealth services have been approved for fiscal years 2021 through 2025 with terms lasting up to five years. For more information, visit https://www.dwt.com/insights/2020/04/fcc-cares-act-telehealth-programs.
Which technological solutions are appropriate for telehealth?
The Office of Civil Rights (OCR) recently explained that it “is exercising its enforcement discretion to not impose penalties for noncompliance with the HIPAA Rules in connection with the good faith provision of telehealth using such non-public facing audio or video communication products” at this time. While some interpret the OCR’s statement as allowing public-facing solutions like FaceTime, compliance requirements have not changed as a result of this statement. Rather, the OCR is temporarily refraining from penalizing providers as they help patients through the COVID-19 crisis. Free forms of audio/video conferencing still do not offer the features required by a HIPAA Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to be compliant.
What can Dynamic Edge do to help?
Drawing upon our 20+ years of experience in IT and security, many of which have been dedicated to providing leading solutions to health care providers, we’ve reviewed the current HIPAA-compliant telehealth options. We’re ready to partner with you to determine which technological tools best suit your needs. Contact us today to discuss the solutions we recommend.
