HIMSS is calling on healthcare stakeholders to join two initiatives to help expand access to quality care for underserved and underserved populations. risk.
As part of Global Health Equality Week, HIMSS (the parent organization of Healthcare IT News), is promoting two policy campaigns, at the federal and state levels, respectively.
The first is a focus on protecting access to care through the flexibility of telehealth that has enabled widespread expansion and adoption of virtual care since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Given those flexibility due to a shutdown 151 days after the federal Public Health Emergency expires, HIMSS is urging its members to contact senators and their representatives and urge them to extend coverage of telehealth services under Medicare until at least December 31, 2024.
Specifically, HIMSS supports the Advance Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act of 2022, which was passed by a wide margin in the House of Representatives this past July but has stalled in the Senate.
Among other provisions, the bill would allow federally qualified medical centers and rural health clinics to continue providing telemedicine services; allow beneficiaries to receive these services at any location, including the patient’s home, regardless of geographic location; expand the types of providers authorized to provide telehealth to occupational and physical therapists as well as speech-language pathologists; continued coverage for audio-only television and more.
“We have expanded access to care and kept people safe with telehealth services,” said Tom Leary, senior vice president and head of government relations at HIMSS. “Unless the Senate acts, we will be forced to revert to pre-pandemic policies that ignore innovative telemedicine approaches that improve both patient safety and health equity. “
The second campaign focuses on improving and protecting maternal health, and HIMSS is urging members to contact their state Medicaid governors and directors and urge them to make better use of information and technology to reduce maternal mortality.
The US has the highest maternal mortality rate when compared to other countries with the same level of wealth. “Specifically, African-American, Alaska Native, and Native American women are more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes,” according to HIMSS, citing CDC data showing more than 80% of deaths. Pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. Those risks to maternal health only increase during the pandemic.
HIMSS is calling on states to develop new strategies towards modernizing their health data systems to help combat the country’s maternal mortality crisis and save lives.
The campaign seeks to “request states to enact comprehensive changes to laws and regulations through state ‘Momnibus’ policies,” Leary said. “As the GAO and CDC pointed out this week, maternal deaths are largely preventable. With coordinated policy changes, we can make a real difference for women and families. “
he said.
Twitter: @MikeMiliardHITN
Email the writer: [email protected]
Healthcare IT News is a HIMSS publication.
