[TAO] Telehealth response to COVID 19 in Oregon

[Catherine Britain]

Good Morning,

Yesterday Governor Brown declared a state of emergency due to the COVID -
19 virus.  In the press conference that followed, the director of OHA,
Patrick Allen said that he is particularly encouraging the use of
telehealth to limit the spread of the virus and to assist in treating those
affected in place, especially vulnerable populations,

I hope that if you have a telehealth program, you are considering using it
to help manage this virus. I realize there are a lot of questions regarding
policy and reimbursement. To that end TAO will try to maintain a flow of
updated information and to answer or find answers to your questions as they
arise.  Director Allen stated in the press conference that he is willing to
help remove barriers to providing services telemedically at this time.

To that end, if you have questions or concerns about current or potential
barriers, please do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to
share your concerns with OHA.

I have attached the portion of the bill that Congress passed and the
President signed waiving some of the CMS restrictions for reimbursement of
services delivered via telehealth and the CMS guidance sheets.

Here is a link to a special issue from the National Telehealth Policy
Resource Center dealing with COVID 19.  It was distributed Friday and I
will be sure to send you any updates.
https://mailchi.mp/cchpca/special-edition-coronavirus-telehealth-the-new-federal-law-the-policy-hurdles-that-remain

If you would like to and have the time to share stories of how you are
using your program to help manage COVID 19, please send them to me and I
will see that they are distributed to our telehealth community.

Be well,
Cathy



-- 
Catherine S. Britain, Executive Director
Telehealth Alliance of Oregon
csbritain at gmail.com
541-910-7366
www.ortelehealth.org
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