On February 20, 2025, U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-KS) introduced bipartisan legislation, the Protecting Patients from Deceptive Drug Ads Act (the Act), which closes perceived “legal loopholes”...more
Virtual medical second opinion (VSO) programs continue to roll out across the country, delivering expert recommendations to better help patients’ diagnoses or treatment options. These VSO programs can offer immense value to...more
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just released a new regulation temporarily extending the COVID-era flexibilities for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine. This third extension continues the “full set”...more
In the wake of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) notice of a forthcoming proposed rule with a third extension of flexibilities related to telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances, some industry stakeholders...more
After considerable pressure from both Congress and the White House, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) submitted a proposed rule regarding flexibilities on telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances on October...more
Today, a tale of two markets are seen in healthcare mergers and acquisition (M&A): the present (as reflected in the data about declining dealmaking) and the future (reflected in the increasingly positive outlook by...more
12/11/2023
/ Acquisitions ,
Artificial Intelligence ,
Digital Health ,
Divestiture ,
Health Care Providers ,
Health Technology ,
Healthcare ,
Medicaid ,
Medical Devices ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Advantage ,
Mental Health ,
Mergers ,
Startups ,
Telehealth ,
Valuation ,
Value-Based Care
There have been exciting advancements in the digital health space over the past few years that are truly changing lives, but the sector seems to be experiencing a reset as investment drops off. Below, we look at some current...more
On November 2, 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new policies related to remote physiologic monitoring (RPM) and remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) services reimbursed under the Medicare...more
11/9/2023
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Data Collection ,
Final Rules ,
FQHC ,
Health Technology ,
Medical Billing Codes ,
Medical Devices ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Shared Savings Program ,
Physical Therapists ,
Physician Fee Schedule ,
Reimbursements ,
Rural Health Care Providers ,
Telemedicine
On May 10, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) released a new regulation – “Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription of Controlled Medications” – temporarily extending the “full set” of...more
On March 1, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) officially published proposed rules for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expires. The DEA gave the public a 30...more
On February 24, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Agency announced proposed rules for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expires. The proposed rules are open for public...more
2/27/2023
/ Controlled Substances ,
DEA ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Opioid ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Recordkeeping Requirements ,
Ryan Haight Act ,
SAMHSA ,
Telemedicine
With 2022 closed, there is growing anticipation (trepidation?) about what is in store for digital health in the new year. Will venture funding trickle or will 2023 see more liquidity in the markets? What legal and policy...more
The American Hospital Association (AHA), on behalf of its nearly 5,000 member hospitals and health systems, sent a letter urging the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to take immediate action to allow telemedicine prescribing of...more
On November 1, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its final 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule. As finalized, some of the most significant telehealth policy changes include: ...more
On November 1, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized new policies related to remote therapeutic monitoring (RTM) services reimbursed under the Medicare program.
The changes, part of the...more
Starting January 1, 2023, Medicare will cover telehealth-based treatment services delivered by federally-accredited opioid treatment programs (OTPs), commonly referred to as “methadone clinics.” This new reimbursement is...more
11/10/2022
/ Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
DEA ,
Drug Treatment ,
Final Rules ,
Medicare ,
Opioid ,
Physician Fee Schedule ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Ryan Haight Act ,
SAMHSA ,
Social Security Act ,
Substance Abuse ,
Telehealth
A coalition of health care associations has issued a call for stakeholders to sign onto a letter urging the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) to take immediate action allowing telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances...more
Continued access to telehealth services, particularly as it relates to medication assisted treatment (MAT) for substance use disorder (SUD), enjoys strong support among patients and clinicians, yet laws continue to trail...more
As online digital health services continue to enjoy broader use and appeal, federal regulators are concerned some telemedicine online patient-user interfaces fail to accommodate persons with disabilities and limited English...more
9/13/2022
/ Affordable Care Act ,
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ,
Civil Rights Act ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Digital Health ,
Disabilities ,
Limited English Proficiency (LEP) ,
Mental Health ,
Non-Discrimination Rules ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Telemedicine ,
Title VI
On July 20, 2022, HHS-OIG published a new Special Fraud Alert on arrangements with telemedicine companies, setting forth seven characteristics OIG believes could suggest a given arrangement poses a heighted risk of fraud and...more
On July 7, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released its proposed 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule. The rule, if enacted as proposed, will:
Create three new permanent telehealth...more
7/14/2022
/ Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Medicare ,
Medicare Part B ,
Physician Fee Schedule ,
Proposed Rules ,
Public Health Emergency ,
Social Security Act ,
Substance Abuse ,
Telehealth ,
Waivers
On July 7, 2022, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed five new changes to Remote Therapeutic Monitoring (RTM) services under the Medicare program. The changes, part of the proposed 2023 Medicare...more
In what feels like an instant, telemedicine has gone from an emerging niche to a must-have. The pandemic created an opportunity for telemedicine providers to grow — rapidly — giving even more reason for venture capital and...more
It may seem counterintuitive, but one of the reasons some entrepreneurs are drawn to healthcare are the regulations. No industry outside of defense is as heavily scrutinized, and for good reason: When you deal with people...more
Florida has taken another step towards expanding telemedicine. On April 6, 2022, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law legislation to remove Florida’s prior restrictions on telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances....more