Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Who Isn't Using Telehealth During The Pandemic? Study Breaks It Down
CIDRAP: Telehealth Widened Eye Care Disparities In Pandemic, Data Show
Male, Black, older, and non–English-speaking eye care patients and those with no more than a high school education were less likely to choose telemedical care over in-person visits during the COVID-19 pandemic, finds a retrospective study yesterday in JAMA Ophthalmology. Led by Johns Hopkins University researchers, the study analyzed health insurance claims data of 1,911 ophthalmologic and optometric patients with 2,262 telemedical visits at Massachusetts Eye and Ear from Jan 1 to Dec 31, 2020. They then compared the data with statistics from 2019 and in-person visits. (Van Beusekom, 9/24)
Modern Healthcare: Providers Have Unanswered Questions Ahead Of COVID-19 Grant Reporting Deadline
For some healthcare providers, meeting next week's deadline for reporting on their federal COVID-19 grant spending is shaping up to be a mad scramble. Accountants helping providers get ready for the Sept. 30 deadline to report on the first tranche of Provider Relief Fund spending say even those who've been prepared for weeks have legitimate questions about how to move forward. Congress approved $178 billion to help providers weather the unprecedented crisis, but many in the healthcare industry say the Health and Human Services Department's guidance on how to account for that money has been confusing and unclear. (Bannow, 9/24)
Modern Healthcare: More Behavioral Health Providers Need EHRs, MACPAC Says
The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission is developing recommendations for Congress on improving health IT adoption among behavioral health providers, according to comments made during the commission's September meeting on Friday. It's exploring whether the federal government could use existing programs to provide states with matching funds if they give behavioral health providers money to adopt electronic health records and related technologies. MACPAC is also looking into whether Medicaid managed care plans could make direct payments to such providers to encourage EHR uptake and promote greater interoperability. (Brady, 9/24)
AP: Struggling Mississippi Hospital Seeks Financial Turnaround
Leaders of Greenwood Leflore Hospital held closed-door hearings in the past week to brief local officials and its own employees about proposals for a financial turnaround. CEO Jason Studley said no layoffs or terminations are anticipated, although some positions might not be filled as employees leave, the Greenwood Commonwealth reported. Studley told the newspaper he would publicly release details of the financial plan in the coming week. (9/26)
KHN: From The FDA’s Empty Seat To Chock-Full ICUs, Journalists Recap The Week’s Stories
KHN correspondent Rachana Pradhan discussed why President Joe Biden hasn’t yet nominated a permanent leader for the Food and Drug Administration on Newsy’s “Morning Rush” on Thursday. ... KHN freelancer Nick Ehli discussed Montana’s overrun intensive care units on the Northern Broadcasting System’s “Voices of Montana” on Wednesday. (9/25)
