This is Naomi Diaz with the Becker's Digital
Health podcast. Here's your daily industry news briefing
for today, October 8.
First, 10 health systems are teaming up to
explore strategy, ethics, governance, and scaling of iGentic
AI at their organizations.
The first cohort of the collaborative organized by
digital transformation company Avia
will focus on using AI agents for nursing
clinical support, customer service, and contact centers, as
well as patient experience according to an October
8 news release.
Some of the 10 health systems include Bon
Secours, Mercy Health, Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Wisconsin,
MedStar Health, Motif Cancer Center, and more.
Second,
some health systems have started pausing telehealth visits
for Medicare beneficiaries as the government shutdown continues.
Pandemic era telehealth flexibilities
expired October 1 with the federal government stoppage,
cutting off CMS reimbursement for many virtual visits.
While many health systems are still waiting for
a resolution between Congress and president Donald Trump,
some organizations have begun to suspend telehealth access
for Medicare and Medicaid patients.
The American Telemedicine Association
estimates that about 30% of hospitals and health
systems have halted their Medicare telehealth offerings amid
the shutdown.
Quote, Providence proactively prepared for telehealth services to
return to pre pandemic guidelines,
which limited the type of telehealth services
that quantify for reimbursement,
including restrictions for audio only visits, types of
service, and sites of service,
a spokesperson for the 51 hospital system based
in Renton, Washington told Becker's.
Quote, due to this change, some Medicare patients
are being asked to come in for appointments
that were originally scheduled as telehealth to ensure
their care is covered, end quote.
NYU lingo and health posted a notice on
its website stating, quote, due to the federal
government shutdown,
Medicare and Medicaid patients are unable to schedule
new telehealth and video visits.
If you already have a visit scheduled, it
will continue as planned. If not, contact your
doctor's office to schedule an in person appointment,
end quote.
San Diego based Scripps Health has also rescheduled
more than 400 Medicare telehealth appointments as in
person visits since October 1, while another 600
plus have remained virtual because they're part of
the health system's ACO,
the San Diego Union Tribune reported.
Shane Tillman, vice president and chief information and
digital officer of Scripps Health, emailed to the
newspaper, quote,
some Medicare patients no longer eligible for a
telehealth visit elect to keep their telehealth appointment
with the knowledge Medicare is not currently covering
the visit, and they may be financially responsible,
end quote.
Saint Elizabeth Healthcare is also working to move
Medicare telehealth patients to in person visits and
telling those who wish to keep their appointments
virtual that they may be billed,
WCPO reported.
A spokesperson for New York City based NYC
Health Plus Hospital, the nation's largest
health system, said it is, quote, continuing telehealth
appointments as usual for all patients, including those
on Medicaid
and Medicare.
Meanwhile, mass general Brigham and Sanford Health, they
also said they are maintaining telehealth access as
well.
Some health systems say they're still assessing the
situation.
A Cleveland Clinic spokesperson told Becker's, quote, our
goal is to minimize interruptions to the care
our patients are receiving.
We are continuing to monitor this and are
committed to the delivery of health care in
compliance with regulatory
guidelines, end quote.
At the same time, others are anticipate
anticipating payback from CMS if and when the
shutdown ends.
A spokesperson
for Mercy told Becker's, quote, we're hopeful our
government leaders will come to a solution quickly
to protect the availability of telehealth care, which
has served as a lifeline for patients in
recent years, particularly those in parts of our
country where access to certain health care services
is not readily available.
Mercy remains committed to providing telehealth to our
patients and hopes to receive reimbursement retroactively
when the government reopens, end quote.
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