Telehealth Resources

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Last Updated 10/11/2021

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News

August 2, 2020 - Opinion: Telehealth Flexibility Needed Amidst Converging Mental Health, Addiction Crises - Guest Commentary in Maryland Matters
The recommendations outlined in this commentary have been co-developed and endorsed by a coalition of 36 health care providers and advocacy organizations in Maryland, MedChi is one of the organizations that signed on to the proposal
April 13, 2020 - MedChi Sign on Letter to Vincent Nelson, MD, MBA, FASA, Vice President, Medical Affairs and Interim Chief Medical Officer Blue Cross Blue Shield Association - RE: Temporary Expansion of Telemedicine Services during COVID-19
April 13, 2020 - MedChi Sign on Letter to Matt Eyles, President & CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans - RE: Temporary Expansion of Telemedicine Services during COVID-19
April 1, 2020 - Joint Letter to Governor Hogan RE: signing Senate Bill 402/House Bill 448 – Health Occupations-Telehealth
April 1, 2020 - Order of the Governor of the State of Maryland Number 20-04-01-01; Amending and Restating Order No. 20-03-20-01 To Further Authorize Additional Telehealth Services

Grant Information

September 22, 2020 - Are You Eligible for a Telehealth Grant?

April 25, 2020 - Maryland Telehealth Grants released to respond to COVID-19
This is a short video that gives an overview of two telehealth grants offered in Maryland for Maryland physicians in response to COVID-19.

April 22, 2020 - Memo on Additional Telehealth Grant Opportunities

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) and the Maryland State Medical Society (MedChi) launched a grant program to provide independent physician practices with five or fewer members, a year of complimentary access to DrFirst’s Backline Telehealth platform for physicians who enroll between March 1, 2020 and June 30 of 2021. DrFirst is a Maryland-based company that offers secure telehealth services. This collaboration will equip additional Maryland physicians with the technology they need to provide needed virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. This grant has been extended until December 31, 2021.

Fill out the application and return it to MedChi via email to Andrea Mullin or mail to 1211 Cathedral Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 attn. Andrea Mullin.

If interested, please contact Andrea Mullin.

New Maryland Telehealth Payment Law - September 2021

MedChi Telehealth Coding/Billing Guidelines - Updated June 23, 2021

Telemedicine: Legal and Licensure Implications - May 2021

MedChi Telehealth Opportunities - December 23, 2020

MedChi Action on Telehealth - August 28, 2020

SAMPLE Consent for Telemedicine and Telephone Services During the National EMERGENCY for the Coronavirus
Telemedicine FAQ's - Updated March 30, 2020

AMA Telehealth Immersion Program

The Telehealth Immersion Program is the AMA’s newest offering to guide physicians, practices and health systems in optimizing and sustaining telehealth at their organizations and builds on The Telehealth Initiative.

Through a series of curated webinars, interactive peer-to-peer learning sessions, virtual discussions, bootcamps and resources on-demand, the Telehealth Immersion Program offers a comprehensive curriculum and enhanced experience navigating the world of telehealth alongside peers nationwide.

The Telehealth Immersion Program, part of the AMA STEPS Forward™ Innovation Academy, will provide foundational information surrounding the telehealth landscape and offer deep dives into aspects of telehealth including, but not limited to:

- Clinical best practices.
- Integration with other health care technologies.
- The impact of telehealth related to elements of the quadruple aim.
- How to successfully scale and sustain telehealth in practice.
- Virtual care expansion opportunities.

Additionally, the program will explore the barriers and challenges that exist today—such as access to technology, broadband and issues surrounding digital literacy—to ensure telehealth can reach the potential it has to enhance care delivery, continuity, and experience, expand equitable patient access, and support improved clinical outcomes and value.
AMA Releases Four New BHI How-to Guides
The AMA has released four new practice guides that equip physician practices and health systems with practical strategies for overcoming obstacles to accessible and equitable treatment for patients’ behavioral, mental, and physical health needs. These guides focus on four key areas of effective integrated care: practice workflow design, pharmacological treatment, substance use disorder, and suicide prevention. Additionally, the BHI Compendium, which serves as a tool to help provide a proven pathway for delivering integrated behavioral care, has also been enhanced with additional resources and practice case studies ensuring physician practices and health systems have the most recent, actionable information at their disposal.
American Medical Association Telehealth Use Survey
The AMA is conducting a survey to assess the current landscape and use of telehealth among physicians and other health care practitioners. The goal is to learn more about physicians’ experience with telehealth, including ongoing challenges, benefits, and opportunities. Survey results will help inform future telehealth research and advocacy, resource development, and continued support for physicians, practices, and health systems. The survey will close on December 31, 2021, at 11:59 p.m. ET.
AMA to Host Mini-Boot Camp Focused on Highlights from the 2021 Telehealth Immersion Program
The AMA will host a Telehealth Immersion Program mini-boot camp from 5-7 p.m. ET. on December 7 that will provide participants with a recap of the 2021 Telehealth Immersion Program, highlight physician and practice wins, and provide an overview of the telehealth landscape for the future, including key policy changes for 2022.
March 17, 2020 - AMA applauds Medicare telemedicine policy change during pandemic

Effective February 1, 2021 CareFirst will cover remote physiologic monitoring for patients discharged from an inpatient facility or emergency room where a diagnosis of heart failure, chronic hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, or COVID-19 is on the claim. Remote patient monitoring must be ordered within 60 days of the patient’s discharge date or emergency room visit and requires a prescription from either the discharging provider or the patient’s primary care or specialty care provider. Detailed information, including a list of diagnoses covered, is available in our Medical Policy Reference Manual, medical policy number 2.01.084 Remote Patient Monitoring.
Coronavirus Updates - Here's What You Need to Know

As we navigate these challenging times, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and CareFirst BlueChoice Inc. (CareFirst) are committed to keeping you up to date on the steps we are taking to meet the health needs of our members and the communities we serve.

In March CareFirst took a series of actions to help ensure that our members had access to the care and resources they needed. These actions included temporarily updating our telemedicine policies and coding guidelines.

As providers and facilities resume patient care operations, CareFirst is reviewing and updating our temporary policy changes. To that end, CareFirst is extending our member cost share waiver for telemedicine visits through July 24. Additionally, we will continue to reimburse eligible providers for telephone consultations through July 24. After July 24, members will be responsible for copays, coinsurance and deductibles for non-COVID related telemedicine visits and we will no longer reimburse for CPT code 99441 or 98966. CareFirst will continue to waive cost sharing for in-network or out-of-network visits to a provider’s office, including telemedicine visits, related to diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19 through September 30. For more information, review the telemedicine guidelines section of our Coronavirus Resource Center.