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Trump signs order seeking to end federal funding for NPR and PBS; NY immigrant wrongfully sent to El Salvador 'supermax' prison; PA 'Day of Action' planned for higher minimum wage, immigrants' rights; New bill in Congress seeks to overturn CA animal welfare law.

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National Security Advisor Mike Waltz is leaving that job to become UN ambassador, bipartisan Arizona poll finds Latino voters dissatisfied by Trump's first 100 days, and Florida mass deportations frighten community members.

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Rural students who face hurdles going to college are getting noticed, Native Alaskans may want to live off the land but obstacles like climate change loom large, and the Cherokee language is being preserved by kids in North Carolina.

Report: Don't Stop Now in Providing Expanded Telehealth

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Monday, October 17, 2022   

In Minnesota and nationally, the medical community is highlighting research measuring the effect of expanded telehealth during the pandemic, and the conversation is shifting toward what to do next.

A new report from the Bipartisan Policy Center said prior to the crisis, telehealth largely catered to rural areas, but when COVID surfaced, federal rules were relaxed allowing services to expand.

For example, utilization within Medicare increased from 1% of claims to 32% by April 2020.

Neerja Singh, behavioral health clinical director for the Minnesota Department of Human Services, said flexibilities also allowed different types of services to see expanded virtual care, including mental health.

"People of Minnesota really benefited," Singh asserted. "Because the access to those services otherwise would not have been possible."

Singh pointed out some of the department's initial research aligns with national findings. A detailed state report is due early next year.

There is concern many Americans will lose access to telehealth whenever the Public Health Emergency officially expires. The Bipartisan Center Report called on Congress to extend the pause in federal rules for another two years.

Julia Harris, senior policy analyst at the Center, said a two-year extension would allow the medical community to further examine a more robust delivery of telehealth. She argued now is not the time to walk away from the current approach to reaching patients.

"Unless they live in rural areas or enroll in Medicare Advantage Plans, many of them -- most of them -- will face loss of access to telehealth," Harris explained.

Harris cautioned there are some red flags associated with expanded telehealth, including some providers overprescribing medications such as Adderall, leading to a federal investigation. She also stressed the need to evaluate audio-only visits. She said they are necessary for some patients, and it is worth asking if they could be made available to everyone.

Disclosure: The Bipartisan Policy Center contributes to our fund for reporting on Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention, Health Issues, Hunger/Food/Nutrition, and Mental Health. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


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