CMS expands telehealth coverage for treatment of opioid abuse disorder

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will have new reimbursement codes for care providers who utilize telehealth to treat opioid abuse patients. As part of the 2020 Physician Fee Schedule, CMS is adding three CPT codes that will allow providers to bill Medicare for telehealth services included in bundled episodes of care for opioid abuse treatment, including care delivered to the home.

These codes were first proposed in July to apply connected health technology to the ongoing opioid abuse epidemic.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma mentioned in a July press release announcing the proposed codes. She said that proposals were being announced so that the government doesn’t come in the way of patient care, by giving clinicians the support they need to spend valuable time taking care of these patients to ensure their diseases were well-managed and their quality of life is preserved.

Now included in this newly announced final rule in a category titled Communication Technology-Based Services, the codes are:

HCPCS code G2086, covering at least 70 minutes during the first calendar month of office-based treatment for opioid use disorder, including development of the treatment plan, care coordination, individual therapy and group therapy and counseling;

HCPCS code G2087, covering at least 60 minutes in a subsequent calendar month of office-based treatment for opioid use disorder, including care coordination, individual therapy and group therapy and counseling; and.

HCPCS code G2088, covering each additional 30 minutes beyond the first two hours of office-based treatment for opioid use disorder, including care coordination, individual therapy and group therapy and counseling (filed alongside the code for a primary procedure).

An analysis of the new codes penned by Nathaniel Lacktman, a partner in the Foley & Lardner law firm and chair of its national Telemedicine & Digital Health Industry Team, and Emily Wein, a healthcare lawyer with the firm, the new codes combine with recent legislation to give new opportunities to deliver care to the patient’s home.

Source - http://www.lifecyclehealth.com/whatsnews/2019/11/13/cms-expands-telehealth-coverage-for-treatment-of-opioid-abuse-disorder

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Suicide deaths and the ‘Opioid Crisis’

Writing in her blog at the National Institute On Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volkow and co-author Dr. Joshua Gordon of the National Institute of Mental Health offer an insight that “Suicide Deaths are a major component of Opioid Crisis that must be addressed.”

They mention that opioid overdose epidemic is not restricted to people with opioid addiction who accidentally take too much of a pain reliever or unknowingly inject a tainted heroin product.

Hidden in the alarming number of overdose deaths is a significant number of people who decide to take their own life. The authors also mention that due to the current initiatives to reduce opioid prescribing, many patients in pain find it unable to get treatment they need or get stigmatized as “addicts” by the healthcare system. Thus, compounding their difficulties.

There is a rising desperation and despair of people in agony who are denied treatment by misdirected policies of Federal and State drug enforcement agencies and State Medical Boards.

A recent study states that 40% of primary care clinics in Michigan will no longer allow their doctors to prescribe opioids to new patients.

But medical prescribing cannot possibly be the only cause of opioid crisis. It is time we recognize that America’s opioid and suicide crisis are much larger than just prescribing or street drugs. The factors responsible for addiction and suicide are socio-economic. Forty years of wage stagnation compounded by automation of manual labor jobs, structural unemployment and the hollowing-out of rural communities have made millions of people vulnerable to the distractions of street drugs. The crisis is not of medical exposure, but of despair. The labor force has to be redeveloped without which a change will not occur in either overdose or suicide statistics.

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What are the benefits of growing Remote Patient Monitoring Market?

Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) is a healthcare delivery system that is driven by technology in order to monitor patient’s health, outside the traditional clinical setting. Remote health monitoring systems are affordable and smarter.

Device manufacturers traditionally targeting hospitals and clinics are now presented with new potential revenue channels as they begin offering their services to consumers. These observations have been revealed in the research report from Business Insider Intelligence.

Today, US health systems and hospitals are moving towards improved health care outcomes and reduced costs. One of the tools they use to achieve this aim is Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) technology. This type of patient care extends the reach of physicians, enables the relationship between patients and caregivers. It also offers providers continuous real time health data.

RPM is a specific technology used to electronically transmit information between patients and physicians. Common patient remote monitoring devices are voice apps that remind diabetes patients to take insulin, while allowing doctors to monitor the disease, digital blood pressure cuffs that lets patients to remotely send physicians their blood pressure and pulse.

Providers using RPM – enabled home healthcare and other telehealth delivery methods are reducing hospital readmission penalties. The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, reduced the risk of hospital re-admissions by 76% and held patient satisfaction score over 90% by equipping patients with tablets and RMP equipment.

Seniors are driving positive ROI from RPM technology and home-based care largely due to the cohort's high incidence of multiple chronic diseases.

A KLAS Research report surveying 25 healthcare organizations found 38% of healthcare organizations running RPM programs focused on chronic disease reported reduced re-admissions and 17% reported cost reductions.

The future trend in RPM is miniaturization. Device makers are making solutions smaller and less invasive as they partner with new players to expand their market share.

Source - http://www.lifecyclehealth.com/whatsnews/2019/8/30/benefits-of-the-growing-remote-patient-monitoring-market

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How Interactive Patient Engagement Programs Improve Addiction Treatment

Substance addiction is one of the most serious and common challenges that Americans face today. The bad news is that people, particularly young people, are increasingly getting hooked to drugs, alcohol, and tobacco and are starting at a younger age.

According to a report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), nearly 100 people die every day in the country from drug overdoses and of the 20 million people who have an addiction, the rates of illicit drug use is the highest among those between the ages 18 and 25.

In addition to severely impacting the physical and mental health of the individual battling the addiction, the disease causes major conflicts in families and relationships as well. The challenge is complicated by the fact that the addiction creeps up on individuals and many continue to live in denial. Furthermore, the stigma around the subject means that not many people reach out and ask for help.

However, studies have shown that addiction is a highly treatable disease and 100% recovery is attainable. Modern patient engagement software solutions have shown some success in making the treatment of addiction more effective by making the process more inclusive and empowering. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of interactive patient engagement in addiction treatment.

Addiction Engagement Software Provide Personalized Treatment

An undeniable fact of addiction treatment is that the course of recovery is different for each individual — what works for one may not work for the other. Depending on the physical and mental health of the individual, and the severity of the addiction, personalized treatment plans are often designed by healthcare professionals and doctors.

The increasing use of remote patient monitoring systems such as telehealth services and mobile apps in addiction treatment means that individuals are able to receive the support and care they require, even if they are unable to meet their physicians in person. For example, most addiction treatment programs involve counseling sessions with psychologists. Patient engagement software systems usually ensure remote availability of counselors in case of emergency and provide a sense of security and comfort to the patient.  

A 2016 Kaiser Permanente Northern California study shows that substance abuse engagement programs, that focus on the overall health progress, use EHRs, and patient portals to allow patients to communicate and engage with their healthcare providers, are much more satisfactory for the patients and such interactive softwares provide them with higher chances of overcoming their addictions. The study showed that patients who are more involved with their treatment and recovery understand the importance of each step of treatment better, and are more likely to adhere to the same and take better care of themselves.

Patient Engagement Software Enable Timely and Reliable Monitoring

The most important aspect of addiction treatment is consistency. Studies have shown that monitoring the progress and acknowledging each step forward is a motivation to control addiction. For example, alcoholics can regularly monitor their blood alcohol levels as a way to stay accountable. Patient engagement portals take this to the next level by providing a comprehensive report of the patient’s health progress in various parameters. Test results, behaviors, attitudes, and progress made in counseling can be monitoring reliably using remote health monitoring systems.

Caregivers and health professionals can monitor the progress made by patients and provide the most effective and relevant treatment needed. This allows for timely detection and intervention whenever the results point toward a red flag. In addition to keeping a tab on relapses, remote health monitoring software systems allow physicians and counselors to treat not just the substance abuse disorder but take into account other medical issues related to age and gender.

Furthermore, a continuous assessment helps in finding the right combination of medicines needed by a patient. Since addiction treatment programs need to be modified with time, keeping a track of the progress becomes imperative to design a treatment that varies according to the patient’s needs and gives the best results.

Interactive Substance Abuse Engagement Software Reduce the Chances of Relapse
Relevant, timely, and critical support and information given to patients when they need it the most is likely to help them maintain their abstinence. However, even with the best possible care and treatment, the chances of relapse for people battling addiction are as high as 40-60%. However, patient engagement programs impact critical preventative care information and also allow patients to comprehensively understand their treatment and recovery. This allows them to understand the significance of each and every step of the journey and helps them make more informed and aware decisions.

Patients involved in opioid addiction engagement programs, as shown by the Kaiser Permanente Northern California study, also seek more medical advice and review medical information more frequently as compared to other patients. Since patients who are battling addiction have complex health needs, keeping them aware of the intricacies of the same helps them adhere to the treatment program more effectively and reduces the chances of a relapse.

Additionally, addiction engagement software solutions allow patients to communicate more effectively with their healthcare providers and seek help whenever they need. By making patients aware of the gravity of the disease and the pitfalls of falling off the wagon, patient engagement programs are able to communicate the urgency and criticality of abstinence.

Conclusion

Conclusion -

Patient management and monitoring programs help make addiction treatment more effective by assuring patients that addiction is treatable inclusive and accessible. Patients who are aware of the impact of their actions and choices will be more likely to make the right call. Furthermore, the availability of medical aid, advice, and information instantly ensures a consistent support system which is not the case in traditional groups or individual counseling sessions.

By allowing the patient to take charge of their recovery journey, substance abuse disorder engagement programs cultivate cooperation and active involvement from the patient, thus, using positive reinforcements to keep patients motivated. Establishing a permanent channel of communication not only helps build trust but also increases the chances of a patient seeking help when they need it the most. Finally, patient engagement programs and strategies are able to dispel myths and preconceived notions regarding addiction and substance abuse by providing accurate and relevant information to patients and their caregivers, which is by far, one of the most important achievements.

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How Shifting to Outpatient Care Can Save Money for Consumers

As of late, we have been seeing a quick ascent in outpatient mind administrations. Outpatient mind has turned out to be very viable because of present-day medicinal skill like insignificantly obtrusive careful capacities, most recent anesthesia strategies, torment administration systems and provider engagement software. This assistance keeps away from potential restorative entanglements and empowers patients to return to homes quickly. Modern patient care software also helps healthcare providers monitor patients after their discharge.

Inpatient vs Outpatient Care 

Inpatient and outpatient mind alludes to the manner in which that a medicinal services benefit is given. Inpatient mind alludes to medicinal administrations that expect you to get conceded into a healing center. Such care, as a rule, includes genuine sicknesses and injury that requires multi-day or a greater amount of remain at the doctor's facility.

Outpatient mind is the restorative administration got when you are not required to remain back at a healing center. This incorporates routine checkups or facility visits and basic surgeries that enable you to leave the doctor's facility around the same time. Such careful administrations, and also recovery medicines and emotional well-being administrations, are accessible as outpatient mind. Outpatient is for the most part more affordable as it uses less of the healing facility's assets.

So how do shoppers spare cash in the event that they move to outpatient mind? We should investigate a wellbeing report discharged by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and the Blue Health Intelligence. Their scientists connected progressed examination to the restorative cases database to investigate advertise improvements and the reasonableness with respect to human services measures.

The analysts investigated four systems that can be completed in either inpatient or outpatient settings. Of these, two (spine medical procedure/hysterectomy and lumbar) overwhelmingly recorded a move towards mobile care and the staying two (gallbladder expulsion and angioplasty) kept on staying stable through at various phases of outpatient mind. The non-crisis nature of the picked techniques gave patients the time they expected to search for human services experts, consider the expenses and choose when and where they wanted to experience the therapeutic treatment.

In light of their report, we should consider how quiet care continuum can be guaranteed while enhancing restorative method results and lessening human services costs.

1. Outpatient Care is Cost successful

Therapeutic methods when performed in an outpatient setup, brought about extensive cost reserve funds. For example, when patients wanted to experience angioplasty in an outpatient setting, the sparing in cost was to the degree of $1,062/technique as against system executed as an inpatient.

The Angioplasty methods in inpatient setup demonstrated a lofty ascent. The inpatient cost for Angioplasty strategies enrolled 6.1 percent rise, while outpatient evaluating demonstrated a pitiful 1.4 percent expansion over a period length of five years.

While outpatient use expanded amid the five-year think about period, in general usage did not increment - the outpatient use increments were counterbalanced by noteworthy abatements in inpatient use.

2. Outpatient cost reserve funds on the ascent 

The resultant cost reserve funds as to the four methodology expanded always, however fluctuated altogether amongst inpatient and outpatient offices. The aggregate cost sparing/method in 2014 was significant running from $4,505 if there should arise an occurrence of hysterectomy to $17,530 as respects angioplasty. The rate of yearly cost acceleration was on higher agree as to inpatient techniques and brought about a rising the aggregate cost putting something aside for outpatient strategies. The rate of heightening was impacted by different viewpoints including repayment rules, cost piece with respect to the inpatient and outpatient framework and difference in the patients' wellbeing conditions.

3. Increment in outpatient system 

Amid this examination, Hysterectomies indicated generous move towards outpatient strategies. The extent of those restorative procedures raised from 36 percent to 64 percent, then again the extent of outpatient lumbar/spine medical procedure raised to 82 percent from 61 percent. While, the offer of Angioplasty outpatient developed insignificantly from 43 percent to 50 percent. Then again, laparoscopic gallbladder medical procedure keeps on staying unaffected as this had moved to outpatient by 2010 and recorded 80 percent.

4. Impressive cost investment funds in Hysterectomies 

The outpatient methodology for hysterectomies created valid and raising cost reserve funds. By and large, the distinction between the inpatient per-technique cost and outpatient expanded from $2,781 in 2010 to $4,505 by 2014. The patients set aside, by and large, $483 out-of-stash costs in 2014 by deciding on outpatient techniques. The regular stomach hysterectomy, which is done in inpatient setting, keeps on remaining the most prevalent careful technique and record for almost 50 percent of hysterectomies. In any case, stomach and vaginal hysterectomies needed to clear a path for the progressed laparoscopic and automated helped laparoscopic activities, which are more good to outpatient setting.

5. Fall in out-of-stash costs in Lumbar/Spine Surgery 

Notwithstanding mounting careful costs, outpatient lumbar/spine methods indicated expanded investment funds in the cost, from a normal sparing per strategy of $5,269 in 2010 to $8,475 in 2014. The funds were $320 overall in out-of-take costs by embraced outpatient process. Over the span of this examination, lumbar/spine techniques moved to the outpatient framework by pretty much 20 rate focuses, to 82 percent from 61 percent. This move to outpatient setting came about because of drop in inpatient use by in excess of 50 percent. Subsequently, the use for lumbar/spine stayed unaltered, all in all.

6. Huge investment funds for outpatient Angioplasties 

Outpatient angioplasties likewise gave in surprising expense investment funds regardless of unassuming development of outpatient over the span of the investigation. The distinction in system cost by and large amongst outpatient and inpatient developed from $11,062 in 2010 to $17,530 in 2014. The investment funds in out-of-stash costs on a normal were $1,062 by taking outpatient method in 2014. The proportion of outpatient angioplasty systems developed humbly from 43 percent to 50 percent, amid the examination time frame, however generally use of angioplasties diminished. This was the result of a staff lessening in inpatient systems, and a minor drop in outpatient activities.

7. Gallbladder methodology; outpatient funds increment 

The outpatient gallbladder evacuations additionally recorded expanding cost funds disregarding having an unfaltering proportion of outpatient techniques made in the time of study. The per-method cost distinction amongst inpatient and outpatient expanded by and large from $8,299 in 2010 to $11,262 in 2014. The investment funds by and large were $924 in out-of-stash spending in an outpatient procedure. The greater part of gallbladder medical procedures changed to outpatient setup in view of imaginative of laparoscopic methods and present day negligibly intrusive advances.

Conclusion: 

Because of the advances in medicinal innovation, medications like minor medical procedures and physical recovery can be completed as outpatient mind. The usage of Telehealth programming makes the outpatient techniques significantly more powerful.

Outpatient mind gives numerous advantages to patients. Above all else, they can recoup in the solace of their own home while making the most of their own nourishment as opposed to the healing center sustenance. They can likewise appreciate exercises of their decision that does not negate limitations given by their human services supplier. The patient supplier correspondence is at the core of outpatient systems and contributes incredibly to making the technique exceptionally fruitful. The best care will be driven through simple and advantageous interchanges among suppliers, patients, parental figures, and pros - and a patient provider communication stage can help with this experience.

All the more essentially, outpatient strategies as a rule cost not as much as the practically identical inpatient methods. Remaining in a healing center notwithstanding for only one night of perception isn't shoddy. Indeed, even those having great medical coverage can make huge investment funds, of up to a great many dollars, by choosing outpatient systems.

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