Telehealth improves access to quality health care while overcoming persistent workforce shortages and may be used as a strategy to address geographic, economic, transportation, and linguistic barriers to health care.
Please follow the links below for:
- Reports, White Papers, and Policy
- Operational Considerations
- Billing and Coding
- Provider Resources
- Education and Training
REPORTS, WHITE PAPERS, AND POLICY
Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP)
Medicaid Program Reimburses FQHCs for Telehealth Services
Fall 2022 Report that was requested and funded by NACHC that includes the fee for service policies for federally qualified health centers.
Policy Finder
A free database for telehealth-related laws and regulations across all 50 states and at the federal level from the National Telehealth Policy Center.
State-Specific Information Available on Telehealth Policies
Fall 2023 Summary Report of state telehealth laws and Medicaid program policies related to telehealth.
Telehealth Policy Across the U.S. in 2024
Video and PowerPoint that provide an update on federal telehealth policies, issues to look for in 2024 at the state and federal levels, and what could happen with telehealth in the first full year after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
Medicare Telehealth Trends Report
This report is about people with Medicare who utilized telehealth services between January 1, 2020 and June 30, 2023.
Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI)
Telemedicine: Ensuring Safe, Equitable, Person-Centered Virtual Care
This 2021 white paper describes a framework for ensuring safe, equitable, person-centered telemedicine. It provides recommendations for implementing them and explores considerations for the future of telemedicine.
Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF)
Telehealth Delivery of Behavioral Health Care in Medicaid
This January 2023 issue brief shares findings from a survey of state Medicaid programs. This resource discusses how states are expanding behavioral health telehealth policy, trends that states have observed in behavioral health telehealth utilization, and key issues to watch.
Stanford University
White Paper on Telehealth in the Rural American West
This 2019 white paper examines how telehealth and policy can improve access disparities and treat specific crises in the rural West.
OPERATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Grants and Programs
The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth provides telehealth funding and administers programs focused on direct services, research, and technical assistance.
Office for the Advancement of Telehealth
The Office for the Advancement of Telehealth creates resources that support direct services, promotes research, and provides technical assistance related to telehealth implementation.
National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)
Environmental Scan of Telehealth Technical Assistance Resource: A Product of the National Health Center Telehealth Resource Center Project, 2022
NACHC and the Center for Connected Health Policy provides a curated list of top telehealth technical assistance resources for FQHCs interested in implementing, operating, expanding, or sustaining a telehealth program.
Telehealth Mythbusters for Health Centers to Consider
NACHC’s State Affairs team presents a new living document capturing common telehealth myths and challenging them with data and insights from NACHC research, academic studies, state intelligence, and outside stakeholders such as the Bipartisan Policy Center.
National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH)
Patient Telehealth Readiness Assessment Tool
This document is intended to assist healthcare providers to identify a patient’s willingness or need for resources and/or skills to engage in telehealth services.
Rural Telehealth Research Center (RTRC)
Telehealth for Rural Settings
The Rural Telehealth Research Center (RTRC) is focused on building the evidence base for telehealth, especially in rural settings. The goal of RTRC is to conduct and disseminate research on rural telehealth that contributes to building a high-performance system in rural America. RTRC is a collaboration of the University of Iowa, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and the University of Southern Maine.
Technical Resources, Assistance Center, and Information Exchange (TRACIE)
Cybersecurity Topic Collection
The resources in this collection can help stakeholders better protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from cyber threats, ensuring patient safety and operational continuity.
Telehealth.HHS.gov
Getting Started with Telehealth
This resource addresses introductory topics such as types of telehealth, technology options, vendors, and how to integrate telehealth into clinical practice.
Health Equity in Telehealth
This resource provides information on improving workflow, staff training, and community resources to ensure equal access to quality telehealth care for everyone, especially underserved populations.
Licensure
Health professionals must meet the licensure requirements of the state where they are located and be licensed or legally permitted to practice in the state where the patient is located. This is a resource for healthcare providers, states, and healthcare organizations.
Planning your Telehealth Workflow
This resource includes guidance on changes to clinic workflows to accommodate telehealth visits.
Telehealth for Rural Areas
This guide includes strategies for developing rural telehealth programs, reaching rural patients online, addressing internet access, and billing. This resource is also available in Spanish.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Health Sector Cybersecurity Coordination Center
These resources were created by the Department of Health and Human Services to aid in the protection of vital, controlled, healthcare-related information, and to ensure that cybersecurity information sharing is coordinated across the health and public health sector.
Weitzman Institute
Telehealth and Patient Engagement Strategies: The Operations Team Perspective
Presentation Slides
Recorded ECHO session from September 2020 that discusses how operations teams can increase patient engagement in telehealth.
BILLING AND CODING
Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP)
Final Rule for Physician Fee Schedule 2024
Fact sheet from November 2023 detailing the changes to the 2024 Physician Fee Schedule.
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Summary
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule that announces policy changes for Medicare payments and other Medicare Part B issues, effective January 1, 2024.
List of Telehealth Services
List of services that are payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth.
Medicare.gov
Coverage for Patients – Telehealth Visits
Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers certain telehealth services. This patient-facing resource provides information on what is covered under Medicare and Medicaid.
Southwest Telehealth Resource Center (SWTRC)
Billing Guides and Resources
List of state and national billing guides and additional resources addressing telehealth billing. List is updated as policy changes.
Telehealth.hhs.gov
Billing and Coding Medicare Fee-for-Service Claims
The latest guidance on billing and coding Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) telehealth claims.
Billing for Telehealth
Resources on billing and reimbursement for Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurers.
PROVIDER RESOURCES
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Easy-to-Understand Telehealth Consent Form
Sample telehealth consent form that is easy to understand.
How to Obtain Consent for Telehealth
Information on how to obtain consent for telehealth.
American Psychological Association
Telemental Health Resources
Collection of telehealth resources and guidance with a focus on mental health providers.
National Action Alliance For Suicide Prevention
Screening for Suicide Risk During Telehealth Visits
This guidance document discusses screening for suicide risk during telehealth visits.
National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH)
Patient Telehealth Readiness Assessment Tool
This document is intended to assist healthcare providers in identifying a patient’s willingness or need for resources and/or skills to engage in telehealth services.
South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC)
Telehealth Etiquette Video Series
A series of videos from which participants can learn the difference between a bad, good, and even better telehealth consultation.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Best Practice Guides
This guide provides an overview of telehealth practices for a variety of conditions and populations to better understand billing, strategies, and best practices.
For Patients
Telehealth resources for patients, including information about the COVID-19 vaccine, finding virtual healthcare providers, preparing for a virtual healthcare visit, and more.
For Providers
Telehealth resources for health care providers, including doctors, practitioners, and hospital staff.
Telehealth.HHS.gov
Compilation of resources for both patients and providers, providing tips on improving telehealth utilization.
Telehealth Privacy Tips for Providers Checklist
A checklist of how to protect data privacy and security risks when conducting telehealth appointments.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC)
Hybrid Virtual Care Models for Optimal Patient Experience
In partnership, Oregon Community Health Information Network (OCHIN), a Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN), and California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC) present a six-part guide that provides an outline of considerations when creating a hybrid virtual care program.
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)
Telementoring and Training for the Health Workforce
May 2022 webinar about highlighting successful projects, best practices, and resources to promote and further the use of telehealth technologies for healthcare delivery, education, and health information services.
What Do You Need to Use Telehealth?
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has created a short video that can be shared with patients to give them tips to successfully use telehealth for their appointments. Patients can learn about device options and appointment preparation.
National Network for Oral Health Access (NNOHA)
Video: Live, Synchronous Teledentistry Visit
This video depicts a condensed, live, synchronous teledentistry visit. It demonstrates how teledentistry can be used for preventive oral health visits.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
Telehealth Training and Workforce Development
This guide highlights strategies for training staff on telehealth procedures to provide better support to staff and better serve patients.