The URAC Report

It is an old but true adage that government moves slowly. While change may be swift, your local, state, or federal regulator is not.

Washington, DC -- The New York State Office of Mental Health (OMH) has announced that it will accept telehealth accreditation as evidence of regulatory compliance for part of the state’s telepsychiatry requirements.

Telehealth is a promising new avenue for providing greater access to care for countless patients. However, not all healthcare organizations are ready to press forward on a fully developed program. 

Robust measurement and accreditation programs are key components of a successful telehealth program, leading experts say.

“There shouldn’t be any difference between a quality telehealth visit” and a traditional in-office doctor visit, says Marybeth Farquhar, vice president, quality, research and measurement, URAC.

When New York-based Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth) decided in 2015 to launch a telehealth program across its 6,200-square-mile service area, the 10-hospital network opted to build it from scratch, investing more than $7 million in technology and infrastructure.

With the transition to value-based healthcare and the growth of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), healthcare providers and payers are looking for ways to overcome barriers to meeting population health goals.

The telestroke program at Penn State Hershey Medical Centers (PSHMC) has dramatically improved care for stroke victims and sets a high bar for other organizations looking to follow suit.

Hundreds of healthcare leaders will gather at the Renaissance Washington, DC to get insights from more than 27 speakers at the Telemed Leadership Forum 2018: ROI of Telehealth, March 27 – 29, 2018.