Search Results for: telehealth – Page 2

Daines Pushes to Expand Permanent Telehealth Coverage

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a letter to Congressional leadership calling for the expansion of access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic to be made permanent. Provisions from Daines’ “CONNECT for Health Act” have allowed Medicare beneficiaries in Montana to utilize telehealth services and were included in previous COVID-19 legislation but will expire following the pandemic unless Congress acts to make those measures permanent. “Telehealth has been a critical tool during the COVID-19 pandemic in ensuring that patients can continue to receive the health care services that they need while minimizing the spread of the virus

COVID-19 Shapes the Future of Telehealth

Before the coronavirus pandemic began limiting nonemergency hospital visits all over the country in March, Virtual Health Manager Nicki Perisho says Kalispell Regional Healthcare (KRH) was conducting an average of 20 telehealth visits a month. But once the stay-at-home order went into effect, telehealth appointments multiplied to almost 500 per day. While the high volume of virtual visits scaled back to about 150 per day by early July, Perisho says the pandemic has paved the way for telehealth’s future and patients and providers are now recognizing its convenience and effectiveness. While many patients are still anxious about coronavirus exposure in

Senators request telehealth access expansion be made permanent

Montana’s U.S. senators issued press releases Monday announcing they are joining a bipartisan group of senators calling for the expansion of telehealth services included in response to the COVID-19 pandemic be made permanent. Sens. Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., both joined in sending a letter to Senate leadership calling for making the expansion permanent. The releases said the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security — CARES — Act contained provisions to expand telehealth across the country to help patients, especially veterans and people living in rural areas, access telehealth services. Provisions of CONNECT for Health Act co-sponsored by Tester and

Daines: We Must Keep Expansion of Telehealth for Montanans

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today sent a bipartisan letter to Senate Leadership urging them to make permanent provisions in previous COVID-19 legislation that expanded telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries. “Telehealth has proven to be pivotal for many patients during the current pandemic, ensuring they receive the care they need while reducing the risk of infection and the further spread of COVID-19. We have all heard from our constituents about how effective and convenient it is,” Daines wrote. “Expanded Medicare coverage of telehealth services on a permanent basis—where clinically appropriate and with appropriate guardrails and beneficiary protections in

Daines Secures Over $200,000 to Expand Telehealth Services in Montana During Coronavirus Pandemic

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines announced today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be directing $264,641 to the University of Montana System and Montana State University to support increased telehealth capabilities in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “In Montana, telehealth is a powerful tool for our providers to expand access to care, especially in vulnerable communities during this public health crisis,” Daines said. “I am glad to have secured these funds to enable more health professional on the front lines of this pandemic to deliver safe and effective care. I will continue working

Daines Secures Expanded Telehealth Services for Indian Country During Coronavirus Pandemic

U.S. SENATE –U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that the Indian Health Service (IHS) will be expanding telehealth services across IHS federal facilities for tribal members. This follows Daines’ request to President Trump to include funding for IHS, including for telehealth, so that Montana tribes have the same treatment as their non-tribal entities during the Coronavirus pandemic. “Expanding tele-health services in Indian country is critical to getting folks access to care during the Coronavirus pandemic,” Daines said. “This will ensure that our rural tribal members, especially tribal seniors can receive care without the risk of leaving their homes and breaking

Daines: Trump Admin Expanding Medicare Telehealth Services During Coronavirus Outbreak

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced the Trump administration will be expanding access to Medicare telehealth services during the coronavirus outbreak. Daines has been vocal in advocating for the expansion of telehealth services to serve Montana seniors and folks across the state, including those in rural communities. “This decisions is about ensuring Montana’s most vulnerable, our senior citizens, are able to visit with their doctor without leaving their homes and risking exposure to coronavirus,” Daines said. “I’m happy the Trump administration acted to increase access to care for Montana’s Medicare patients during the coronavirus outbreak. I will

Daines Announces $188,717 for Telehealth Network in Bighorn County

U.S. SENATE– U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced that $188,717 will be directed towards the Bighorn Valley Health Center to create a new Telehealth network addressing substance abuse. The grant was awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture under the agency’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program. “A strong telehealth network is vital to Montana’s rural communities,” Daines said. “This grant will boost our investments in rural development and help to increase access to limited primary care, oral health care, behavioral health care and substance abuse treatment.”   The program was reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, which Daines fought for as the

Daines’ Bill to Promote Telehealth Passes Senate

U.S. SENATE —U.S. Senator Steve Daines’ bipartisan bill to promote the use of telehealth today passed the U.S. Senate.  The Expanding Capacity for Health Outcomes (ECHO) Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in collaboration with the Health Resources and Services Administration, to study technology-enabled collaborative learning and capacity building models and the ability of those models to improve patient care and provider education.   “Geographic location should not dictate quality of care,” Daines stated. “This bill will promote opportunities to increasingly open up access to high-quality care in rural communities that is not currently available, such as access to specialists; support

Daines Announces $325,000 to Expand Telehealth Services in Billings

U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senator Steve Daines today announced $325,000 to expand telehealth services in rural communities across Montana. The grant was awarded to St. Vincent Healthcare Foundation in Billings.  “It’s critical that Montanans have access to healthcare regardless of where they live,” Daines stated. “Telehealth plays an increasingly important role in communities across Montana and I’m excited that St. Vincent will be able to continue providing quality healthcare services to Montanans.”  “This grant award from The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth in HRSA allows the continuation of The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center which is based out of Billings but serves seven states