Through All the Uncertainty, One Thing is Certain
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
By: Kathleen Chelminiak, UMTRC Project Coordinator
The last 9 months have held much uncertainty. Uncertainty on when travel will happen normally again, without COVID-19 anxiety in the back on our minds; uncertainty if youth are going back to school, and for how long; uncertainty on if your partner can be in the delivery room with you while you have your first, or forth, child; uncertainty around if you or your family members will lose jobs, homes, or even lives. Uncertainty on if one does get sick, will there be healthcare?
Through this, one spot that became more certain was the value of telehealth, but with that came mountains of questions.
What is telehealth?
How do you bill for telehealth?
Where can patients and providers be located?
Which providers can utilize telehealth?
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UMTRC Telehealth Workshops
You asked and we answered! Based on feedback from the July 2020 UMTRC Annual Conference, the UMTRC is excited to host our first one-day workshop. While we certainly hope to offer this in-person in the future, the February 17th workshop will be held virtually and allow participants to earn a maximum of 6.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Featuring speakers from the IRHA and UMTRC teams, we will covering a variety of topics from Needs Assessment and Consent Forms to Remote Patient Monitoring.
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UMTRC Podcasts
Podcasts? Yes, you read that correctly! The UMTRC now has its own podcast series! Thanks to the very talented Caroline Yoder, we have officially launched ‘A Virtual View’. You can access our podcasts through our website or subscribe to them on your favorite podcast platform! We will be publishing 2 podcasts a month, typically on the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month. Our first few episodes will be highlighting different programs at the Indiana Rural Health Association, since our UMTRC program would not be possible without them! We will soon be reaching out to our partners throughout our 4-state region of IL, IN, MI, and OH. If you have a suggestion for a future topic, or would like us to interview you, please complete the form at the link below.
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UMTRC Website
Speaking of the UMTRC website, have you checked it out recently? We’ve been busy creating new resources, and redesigning the website. Check it out!
Upcoming Webinars
Evaluation and Management Billing for FQHCs
This session, Charles James Jr., President and CEO of North American Healthcare Management Services, will discuss reporting Evaluation and Management Services to Medicare as a Federally-Qualified Health Center. We will include a review of the new 2021 Evaluation and Management guidelines and how to apply them to FQHC billing. We will define FQHC providers, locations, and services. It is important that participants come away with a detailed understanding of the difference between “FQHC services” and “Non-FQHC services”, how each are billed, and how to avoid commingling problems.
Join Us
Date: January 12, 2021
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm EST
Location: Zoom Videoconferencing
Presented by: Charles James Jr.
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NCTRC Telehealth Hack
The National Telehealth Technology Assessment Center (TTAC) developed a Pandemic Response Project Team or “Think Tank” to create an Action Plan for a model to support rural communities in a return or continuation of COVID-19 – or a future pandemic – applying telemedicine capabilities and technologies. This team is presenting a series of webinars called the "Telehealth HACK." The next presentation is scheduled for January 13, 2021.
Join Us
Date: January 13, 2021
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm EST
Location: Videoconferencing
Presented by: Doris Barta, Mark VanderWerf, Carl W. Taylor
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Telehealth & Medicaid: Waivers and State Plan Amendments to Address COVID-19
Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS) waivers and state plan amendments are two key pathways that states have leveraged to expand coverage and health care access in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. A recent Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) analysis found that all 50 states and the District of Columbia have leveraged waivers or state plan amendments in some capacity during the pandemic, with telehealth being central to many of these changes. Join the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) and leading Medicaid experts on January 15, 2021 for the first webinar in our Winter webinar series, Telehealth Policy & COVID-19.
Join Us
Date: January 15, 2021
Time: 2:00pm-3:00pm EST
Location: Videoconferencing
Presented by: Sheri Gaskins, Dr. Shannon Dowler, Erica Bonnifield
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Similar to webinars, our Virtual Office Hours are offered virtually. They are more informal, more interactive, and typically only last 30 minutes, instead of an hour.
A Virtual View
BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) and learn all about the UMTRC’s new Podcast! Hear about the topics we have covered thus far and what we plan to cover in the future.
Join Us
Date: January 20, 2021
Time: 12:00pm-12:30pm EST
Location: Videoconferencing
Hosted by: Becky Sanders, UMTRC Project Director
Coffee Break with the Experts
We are all ears! What questions to you have about telehealth? No topic is off limits. Our experts will be available to answer your questions in this relaxed, informal setting.
Join Us
Date: January 25, 2021
Time: 12:00pm-12:30pm EST
Location: Videoconferencing
Hosted by: Becky Sanders, UMTRC Project Director
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UMTRC 2021 Stakeholder Calls
As part of our outreach efforts, the UMTRC hosts quarterly telehealth update calls with stakeholders with in all four of the states in our region: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio. We invite you to join us for the jam-packed update to the quarterly state of telehealth in our region!
Here are the upcoming 2021 stakeholder calls:
Wednesday, January 20th from 2-3pm EST
Wednesday, April 21st from 2-3pm EST
Wednesday, July 21st from 2-3pm EST
Wednesday, October 20th from 2-3pm EST
Up Next:
January 20th
2:00-3:00pm EST
Featuring a discussion on the 2021 Medicare Fee Schedule
Upcoming In-Person Conferences & Virtual Events
Telegenetics Training Program
The Midwest Genetics Network and the Heartland Genetics Network are collaborating with the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC) to offer an introductory telegenetics training program for genetics providers and genetic counseling students.
The one day virtual workshops for Genetic Counselors and Counseling students will be held on:
- February 16, 2021
- May 10, 2021
The one day virtual workshops for Physicians will be held on:
- February 23, 2021
- May 11, 2021
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IRHA Public Policy Forum
Join the Indiana Rural Health Association on January 28th as they cover healthcare issues from both the state and national perspective. They have gathered the experts to provide updates on rural health legislation and policies and how they may affect you.
Governor Eric Holcomb will participate in an open Q&A session along with many other great presenters.
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Social and Subscribe
Be sure to connect with the UMTRC on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube for information on where to find us at training sessions, conferences, and the like.
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UMTRC c/o IRHA
2901 Ohio Boulevard, Suite 240
Terre Haute, IN 47803
855-283-3734 extension 238
[email protected]
This newsletter was made possible by grant numbers G22RH30351 and GA5RH37466 from the Office for Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resource and Services Administration, DHHS. This information or content and conclusions are those of the UMTRC and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.