Greetings Northwest Region:

The 2021 NRTRC Technical Assistance Report is now available.This report provides a detailed look into the results of the annual survey, amount of technical assistance requests, publications, resources and educational courses developed by the NRTRC throughout year. Contact us to share your feedback about the report and how you or your organization are implementing the resources provided by the NRTRC.

Last Call: The Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center wants you to submit your abstracts for oral and poster presentations at the 11th Annual 2022 NRTRC Telehealth Conference. The deadline for abstracts has been extended through April 1. Submit Abstracts Here

The National Telehealth Technology Assessment Center’s bi-annual survey has been released. This survey asks a variety of questions about technologies, roles and planning among people and organizations that use telehealth technologies. By completing this survey you are helping the Center to: Identify technologies that warrant evaluation. Understand trends that affect the regional and national telehealth landscape. Determine how TTAC can better help telehealth providers. The survey takes less than 10 minutes, and by completing the survey, you will be entered into a drawing for one of 10 Amazon gift cards.

Federal Telehealth Flexibilities to Extend 151 Days Post PHE Language was included in the 2022 Omnibus Budget Bill extending federal telehealth flexibilities for 151 days post-PHE. The extension, just signed by President Biden on March 15, 2022, includes location, provider, and audio-only expansions. It also includes a delay to the new in-person telemental health visit requirement enacted in Medicare this year. Stay tuned for further information from the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) and the NRTRC.

Telehealth – Screening for Lung Cancer & Saving Lives Last month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) expanded coverage of lung cancer screening via low-dose CT scans. Counseling visits to discuss the screenings can be delivered via telehealth and should be billed using the code G0296. The NRTRC has created a two-page summary of how to navigate the new rules.

Federal Report on Opioid Use Disorder In January, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published a 22-page study about how access to medications for opioid use disorder was affected during the height of the COVID epidemic. The report includes an important finding: “Telehealth services were used by only 2% of all OUD beneficiaries in the pre-COVID period but jumped to 71% after the pandemic began and the CARES Act was implemented.”

Upcoming Events & Webinars

NCTRC Webinar — Digital Health in Homes and Communities: Emerging Opportunities for Patient Engagement: This presentation discusses applications of “smart home” systems designed to promote safety, the use of digital phenotyping to enhance symptom management and sensing technologies to support independence. It will cover the clinical, technical and ethical implications of these technologies and address safeguards for patient autonomy and privacy. March 17, noon to 1 p.m.   NRTRC Webinar — FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program: This webinar will discuss what the Affordable Connectivity Program is, who can participate, and how to apply. March 31, noon to 1 p.m. The National Virtual EMS & Care Conference 2022: This virtual conference is aimed at rural ambulance providers, rural medical providers, and state and local policymakers. Utah's EMS director will present "Utah’s Crisis Response Technician for Behavioral Health Crisis," and an Arizona team will present "Tele-Medical Direction for Rural EMS Communities." April 19-21. NCTRC Webinar — Innovation & Integration of Telehealth into Population Health: The cultural shift to online shopping and services are driving new expectations in the patient-centered health system. This presentation will discuss how health organizations across the county are learning from the retail industry and are making efforts to build a smart health system. April 21, noon to 1 p.m.

Search for a telehealth provider in your state or elsewhere in the Northwest Region by using the NRTRC's Telehealth Finder tool. You can find a provider by location, or search by the type of specialty care service you are seeking.

NRTRC Recently Added a Data Analyst NRTRC recently contracted with a data analyst through August 2022. This addition gives the NRTRC the ability to examine quantitative data to help healthcare providers and organizations move forward with an awareness in telehealth trends. This information will allow for updating and improving telehealth care. Read the just released NRTRC Technical Assistance Report and send NRTRC your thoughts.

Northwest Regional State Telehealth Website Links Alaska Collaborative for Telehealth and Telemedicine Idaho Department of Health and Welfare Montana Telehealth Alliance Telehealth Alliance of Oregon Utah Telehealth Network Washington State Telehealth Collaborative Washington State Department of Health Wyoming Telehealth Network

Telehealth Resources Telehealth Tools and Resources: Find up-to-date telehealth tools & resources. Professional Development: Visit NRTRC's catalog of online telehealth training courses. The Telehealth Resource Centers have gathered resources specific to Federally Qualified Health Centers. Examples include a Critical Access Hospital Telehealth Guide and a webinar on Telehealth Essentials for FQHCs. Emergency Declarations: Oregon is the only state in the Northwest Region that is still under an emergency declaration because of the COVID pandemic.  Updated legislation and regulations: Keep up with regulations and proposed legislation for the states of the Northwest Region. Research: current research opportunities, research articles and survey results.

Grant Funding Opportunities Refer to the funding page on the NRTRC website for updated grant opportunities.

Northwest Regional Telehealth Resource Center “This publication was made possible by grant number UiUTH42531-01 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS”