Blog

Cervical Cancer Prevention Month is an important reminder of how early detection, preventive care, and ongoing support can save lives. While cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers, access to screenings, education, and follow-up care remains a challenge for many individuals—especially those in rural or underserved communities. Telehealth and digital health tools are helping close these gaps by making prevention information, care coordination, and support more accessible than ever.

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Each year, on the third Thursday of November, the Great American Smokeout encourages millions of people across the country to work towards improving their health by quitting tobacco, even if just for one day. Sponsored by the American Cancer Society, the event is not just about a single day without smoking; it is about turning that one day into the first of many on a lifelong journey to achieving better health.

For those already engaged in telehealth or digital care, the Smokeout is also a great reminder of how technology can be an ally in quitting — offering access, accountability, and support at your fingertips.

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This health literacy month, the UMTRC is diving into how providers can use simple strategies to ensure that every patient is able to engage with information about their own health through telehealth.

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On July 14, 2025, CMS released the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS), and it brings some notable updates for telehealth and digital health programs. As always, this is a proposal – what is included in the Proposed 2026 PFS may not be approved or may be changed significantly. Regardless, here's what you need to know based on the proposed 2026 PFS—what’s changing, what’s staying, and how to prepare.

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One of the biggest barriers to mental health care isn’t physical—it’s social. Stigma surrounding mental health persists across the country, but it can be especially strong in small, tight-knit communities. In rural Indiana, where everyone tends to know each other, people often fear being judged or misunderstood for seeking help.

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April is Autism Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing understanding and acceptance of autistic individuals. While much attention is given to children, autistic adults also require support and accessible healthcare options. Unfortunately, they often face significant challenges in accessing necessary medical services. Telehealth has emerged as a powerful tool to bridge these gaps, providing autistic adults with more accessible, comfortable, and effective healthcare options.

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October is health literacy month – and we’re taking a deep dive into the positive impact that telehealth can have on health literacy, specifically for rural and other underserved populations.

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Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force in many industries - telehealth is no exception.  While AI is still a developing technology, there a large amount of enthusiasm for its potential – and not without reason. There are many aspects of telehealth practice that do have the potential to be positively impacted by the utilization of AI. However, understanding its limits is crucial when considering how we can fully harness its benefits as well as realistically manage our expectations.

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As our population ages, the demand for healthcare services among older adults continues to rise. According to the CDC, nearly a quarter of adults over 65 are considered to be in either “fair” or “poor” health. These people may require frequent care to improve their health – however, traditional healthcare delivery methods may not always meet the unique needs of this demographic. Telehealth provides a unique opportunity to connect older adults with care as long as the challenges that may arise are addressed and dealt with.

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The integration of telehealth in SUD treatment marks a pivotal moment in healthcare. It brings hope to individuals seeking help, offering a more accessible, flexible, and stigma-free avenue for their journey to recovery. As technology evolves, the synergy between innovation and compassionate care is likely to redefine the landscape of SUD treatment, making recovery a more attainable goal for those in need.

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By thinking critically and imaginatively about potential uses, virtual reality and other new telehealth tools can become effective and innovative options for providing care. As an application of artificial intelligence, virtual reality is a new and high-potential tool for telehealth. Input from payors, policymakers, and hospital administrators will have a large influence on the uptake of this powerful opportunity.

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While it may not seem immediately obvious, telehealth can be a vital tool for providing accessible HIV prevention and treatment services. From providing access to reducing stigma, there are a myriad of ways that telehealth can be leveraged to prevent, diagnose and treat HIV and AIDS.

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October is Health Literacy Month. Health literacy is a vital part of shaping how people interact with the healthcare system and how they think about their own health. Health literate patients can understand their care and can make well-informed decisions. Telehealth can be a vital tool in empowering patients to understand and manage their own health.

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This post provides a brief overview of some of the telehealth services that may be impacted by the proposed CY 2024 PFS.

 

 

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From June 12^th to 14^th, the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center partnered with our parent organization, the Indiana Rural Health Association, to hold the 25^th IRHA Annual Conference. This was a change for the UMTRC, which has held a separate conference for the past four years. Despite this change, we were able to have a fantastic event and connect with telehealth professionals from throughout our region.

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Telebehavioral has proven to be an effective way for patients to receive care that can help to alleviate barriers like provider shortages and lingering stigma around mental health care. However, it is not without challenges. One of these challenges is access for rural and geographically remote populations. While we hope there will be more accessible broadband in the future, many rural residents will likely have a long road before getting connected. Because of this, community programs like telehealth in libraries will remain essential when promoting access to mental health care.

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There are roughly two months before the PHE ends. To simplify things, the UMTRC has created a resource page with the complete list of telehealth-related waivers and what will happen to them after May 11.

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There have been a number of recent and upcoming changes relating to IHCP that providers should make themselves aware of including expanded telehealth services as well as an upcoming end to continuous full coverage eligibility.

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As of November 1^st, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) has released the updated Physician Fee Schedule for 2023. The annual Physician Fee Schedule determines which services will be covered by Medicare next year. There are several changes to telehealth for 2023 – we will be covering the most significant of those changes here.

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As telehealth continues to develop and to increase in prevalence, careful consideration must be taken to ensure that telehealth is being practiced in an ethical way. Providers should strive to provide ethical care to their patients and consider how best to utilize all aspects of telehealth to provide care in the most effective and ethical way.

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Telehealth is valuable tool in the current and future healthcare landscape. In order to make sure that it is accessible for everyone, we must make a concentrated effort to address the issue of technology literacy

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"With acceptance from both the providers and patients, there is no question tele-behavioral health is here to stay. The question is – at what level?"

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"As the landscape of telehealth and health technologies continues to change, RPM devices are expected to become a larger part of that landscape. Having access to a wide variety of reliable data about a patient’s health can lead to much better health outcomes. RPM devices have the capability to paint a clearer picture of a patient’s overall health and can ensure that patients and providers can work together to make the best possible care decision."

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"As legislation surrounding abortion continues to develop, telehealth will continue to be impacted. This will include the legality of virtual abortion, which will likely vary from state to state for the foreseeable future, as well as increased demand from providers in states that do allow abortion via telehealth."

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2022 Telehealth Reimbursement

Telehealth medical services follow the definition listed in Indiana Code IC 25-1-9.5-6: “the delivery of health care services using interactive electronic communications and information technology, in compliance with the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).” For a provider to be reimbursed for telehealth services under the IHCP, the provider must be enrolled with the IHCP and be a licensed practitioner listed in IC 25-1-9.5-3.5. Providers rendering services in state are also encouraged to have a telehealth provider certification filed with the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. Providers rendering services out of state are required to have a telehealth provider certification under IC 25-1-9.5-9.

 

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The policy landscape is constantly evolving when it comes to telehealth and virtual care. This table highlights some legislation of note in the states of Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio. 

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“By investing in new technologies and ensuring that existing technologies are interoperable, providers and healthcare systems can lessen the burden on their patients and ensure equitable outcomes for all.”

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From a population and public health standpoint, it is alarming that one in three adults with disabilities aged 18-44 years do not have a regular healthcare provider and have also reported having an unmet healthcare need due to cost in the past year. Additionally, one in four adults with disabilities aged 65 years or older did not have a routine check-up in the past year. The need for telehealth services to help bridge these gaps with patients are great, but there must be considerations when providing these services to these patients. Here are a list of resources that can help you understand and provide better care for patients with a disability.

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The No Surprise Act passed in early 2022 will also impact independent physician groups, which include telehealth docs, who must now accept a rate that someone else has negotiated, experts say. 

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Investment in technology and digital care has exponentially increased over the past two years.

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