Telehealth is often lauded as a solution for inequities in health care. But many of the same disparities persist from in-person to virtual care: Lack of insurance, language differences, literacy challenges, broadband access issues, and more.
VTN’s Equity & Telehealth initiative provides content and resources that aim to equip providers across the Commonwealth with tools, education, and best practices for meeting all needs of patients via telehealth.
Topics
Older Adults | Racial Disparities | Patients with Limited English Proficiency | Mental and Behavioral Health | Enhancing Telehealth Accessibility For Those With Disabilities | Underserved and Underconnected Localities | Social Drivers of Health
Medicare’s Reduced Telehealth Coverage Puts Access and Care at Risk
It’s been a few weeks since Medicare telehealth flexibilities expired, and across the U.S., patients are experiencing the effects of these changes. Northern California resident, Charis Hill, learned on Oct. 7 that Medicare would no longer cover telehealth visits. Hill, who had regular virtual sessions with their doctor to manage ankylosing spondylitis, was told to [...]
Read More... from Medicare’s Reduced Telehealth Coverage Puts Access and Care at Risk
New Medicare Telehealth Guidance from CMS
Earlier this month, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released several important updates regarding Medicare telehealth policies following the expiration of legislative waivers on September 30, 2025. These changes, outlined in a special edition of the Medicare Learning Network (MLN) Newsletter and an updated Telehealth FAQ, address claims processing, payment policies, and in-person [...]
Virginia Medicaid Announces Telehealth Flexibility Continues
On September 30, some of the federal COVID-era telehealth waivers expired, resulting in a rollback of coverage for several telehealth services under Medicare. This shift has left many providers and patients uncertain about what virtual care options would remain available. “The good news: there was no opposition in the House to the bill/continuing resolution that [...]
Read More... from Virginia Medicaid Announces Telehealth Flexibility Continues
»Read more blog posts about Equity & Telehealth.
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Tips and Resources for Enhancing Equity in Your Practice
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- Telehealth.HHS.Gov: Preparing Patients for Telehealth
- West Health: Equity in Telehealth – Toolkit for Telehealth Providers
- Health Center Resource ClearingHouse: Telehealth Resources – Access and Equity
- Telehealth Equity Coalition: Solutions
- Telehealth.HHS.gov: Ensuring Equal Access to Telehealth
- Better Care Playbook: Telehealth’s Impact on Health Equity: Evidence Roundup
- Telehealth.HHS.gov: Improving Access to Telehealth
- Temple University Center for Population Health: Telemedicine Tip Sheets for Providers and Patients
- NRC Health: Guide to Delivering Empathic Telehealth Visits
- Planning Your Telehealth Workflow
- Providing Health Literate Virtual Health Services
- American Medical Association: Telehealth Implementation Book
- Upper MidWest Telehealth Resource Center: Telehealth and Health Literacy – Promoting Patient Understanding
Keep the Conversation Going
Each month we will feature Virginia-grown telehealth successes that meet the needs of our community in novel and inclusive ways. Submit an abstract or story ideas here.
