New study eyes telemedicine for treating perinatal stress, depression- mHealth Intelligence, July 23, 2019 Link
Researchers in North Carolina, Chicago and Toronto are collaborating on a large-scale study aimed at determining whether behavioral healthcare services delivered by telemedicine can help new mothers dealing with anxiety and depression.
 
SNF telehealth adoption hampered by capital and cultural obstacles- Skilled Nursing News, July 28, 2019 Link
Skilled nursing providers are becoming increasingly interested in telehealth technology as a way of improving clinical outcomes and reducing care costs. However, systemic obstacles such as poor reimbursement combined with narrow financial margin are slowing adoption by SNFs.
 
VA telestroke program improving care for Veterans- U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, July 23, 2019 Link
Emergency stroke care for veterans continues to improve thanks to the expansion of VA’s National Telestroke Program, one of the first nationwide telestroke programs in the world.
The program was launched in 2017 and now provides acute stroke services in over 30 VA medical centers.
 
Maine still waiting for internet health care revolution- Portland Press Herald, July 28, 2019 Link
Poor broadband and out-of-step Medicare policies relegate Maine's use of telehealth to small niches when it should be in the mainstream.
 
ATA releases 2019 update of state-by-state telehealth report cards - mHealth Intelligence, July 19, 2019 Link
The American Telemedicine Association has updated its survey of state telehealth coverage and reimbursement policies and laws, which was last issued in 2017: press release and link (requires a free registration).

Oscar to enter Medicare Advantage market in New York, Texas
Healthcare Dive, July 18, 2019 Link
Health insurance startup Oscar is entering the Medicare Advantage market next year, partnering with health systems in New York and Texas to launch plans in those areas, pending CMS approval. For New York residents, Oscar is planning to offer an MA plan co-branded with Bronx-based Montefiore Health System.
 
New York expands telemedicine regulations
JD Supra, July 17, 2019 Link
The authorized use of telehealth to deliver mental health services to New Yorkers has been expanded by amendments to the state Office of Mental Health’s Telemental Health Services regulations increasing the types of professionals who may provide care and the places where care recipients can be treated.
 
Telehealth project expands to tackle HCV, substance abuse treatment
mHealth Intelligence, July 17, 2019 Link
A program of the State University of New York at Buffalo was launched in 2016 under funding by the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute to research use telemedicine in treating patients dealing with the hepatitis C virus and opioid abuse.  Based on initial success, the program is expanding to seven more sites in New York.
 
Colorado to use mobile health units to extend reach of MAT therapy
mHealth Intelligence, July 16, 2019 Link
Armed with a $30 million grant, the state is purchasing six mobile health units to extend is connected health network into communities struggling with opioid abuse. The vans will be equipped with connected health tools that allow healthcare providers to deliver Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) therapy.
 
Uptake remains low, but doctors of all ages interested in telemedicine
Healthcare Dive, July 16, 2019 Link
Adoption of telehealth may be ticking up, with the number of physicians reporting telemedicine as a skill   rising 20% per year over the past three years, according to a new study from professional medical network Doximity. Age had no correlation with physician use of telehealth, and specialists in radiology and psychiatry expressed the most interest in adopting telehealth.
 
Growth of telemedicine in N.H. has hopes high, but questions remain
Vermont Public Radio News, July 16, 2019 Link
The telehealth programs of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH, is profiled, with a focus on its services in telestroke and critical care telemedicine. Last year over 4,500 telehealth consults were logged.
 
MAT act would remove waiver, boost telemedicine use in SUD treatment
mHealth Intelligence, July 12, 2019 Link
Congress is mulling legislation that would remove a cumbersome waiver process and increase the use of telemedicine in Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) therapy, a key component of substance abuse disorder treatment.
 
CVS pushes further into care delivery with telemedicine and HealthHUB expansions
MedCity News, July 12, 2019 Link
The retail pharmacy chain has expanded its direct-to-consumer telemedicine offerings to 26 states and has charted out where it plans to open new HealthHUB locations next year.
 
Could Trump’s kidney disease order push telehealth, mHealth adoption?
mHealth Intelligence, July 11, 2019 Link
President Donald Trump's executive order targeting new tactics for treating kidney disease could compel healthcare providers to embrace telehealth and mHealth platforms for better care management, including remote monitoring of dialysis in the home setting.
 
FCC gives telehealth a go with Connected Care Pilot Program approval
mHealth Intelligence, July 10, 2019 Link
The Federal Communications Commission has voted to move forward with a three-year, $100 million pilot program aimed at supporting telehealth and mHealth programs that improve access to care for underserved populations.
 
Fairfield University receives $2.64M grant for telehealth program
Daily Voice Plus, July 10, 2019 Link
Fairfield University and its Marion Peckham Egan School of Nursing and Health Studies in Fairfield, CT, have recently been awarded a four-year HRSA workforce development grant of $2.64 million for the development of a telehealth curriculum.

Recent telemedicine and telehealth regulations
National Law Review, July 9, 2019 Link
Nearly two years after the passage of the New Jersey Telemedicine Law (N.J.S.A. 45:1-60-64), the various licensing New Jersey state licensing boards have finally begun proposing regulations to implement the statute.
 
NewYork-Presbyterian plans to expand telehealth services with new innovation institute
Fierce Healthcare, July 2, 2019 Link
NewYork-Presbyterian has launched the new Hauser Institute for Health Innovation with a specific focus on expanding telehealth services, including applications in remote patient monitoring and in teleparamedics.
 
Can The BIG Act give school-based telehealth a national platform?
mHealth Intelligence, July 1, 2019 Link