Overview
Telehealth modalities (such as audio-visual, telephone, and remote patient monitoring devices) deliver health care, health education, and health information services. Use of telehealth can address disparities linked to geography by bridging gaps in access to timely care, improved care coordination, monitor and treat at-risk populations, expand population health programs, and reach underserved patients, including those in designated Health Professional Shortage Areas.
The MHCC's telehealth initiatives include activities that provide technical support to providers adopting telehealth, assess select use cases through telehealth demonstration projects, foster peer learning about best practices in the delivery of virtual care, build consumer awareness about telehealth, and inform telehealth policy development.
Telehealth Studies
The MHCC conducts telehealth studies requested by the legislature and proposes recommendations to support expanded use of telehealth.
2023-2024
Chapter 382 (Senate Bill 534), Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2023 and Chapter 291 (House Bill 1148), Behavioral Health Care - Treatment and Access (Behavioral Health Model for Maryland) requires MHCC to complete studies and make recommendations regarding the delivery of somatic and behavioral health services through telehealth modalities, including audio-visual and audio-only. The studies will examine payment levels for somatic and behavioral health services delivered via telehealth relative to in-person care. In December 2023, Millman, Inc. was competitively selected to complete study activities that consisted of reviewing relevant literature and conducting analyses using private payer, Medicaid, and Medicare data (2019-2023) from MHCC's All Payer Claims Database. Milliman prepared two technical reports on its findings: Technical Report One compares the average allowed cost and clinical intensity for services provided in-person and via telehealth; Technical Report Two compares reimbursement rates as a percent of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for somatic and behavioral health services delivered in-person and via telehealth. The findings informed development of a recommendations final report submitted to the General Assembly. A high-level summary of the findings and recommendations is available here; a data supplement from Milliman's analysis is available here. Click here for more information.
2022-2023
The MHCC convened an Interstate Telehealth Workgroup at the request of the Health and Government Operations Committee (HGO Committee) to study matters presented in House Bill 670, Maryland Health Care Commission - Study on Expansion of Interstate Telehealth (2022). The study was completed after bill sponsors elected to withdraw the proposed legislation during the 2022 session of the General Assembly. A report prepared for the HGO Committee details study findings, including nine recommendations and four notable considerations. The report is intended to guide the first steps for expanding interstate telehealth and is not an exhaustive list of all things to be considered. A high-level summary of the recommendations and notable considerations and supporting rationale is available here. Click here for more information.
2021-2022
Chapter 70 (House Bill 123) and Chapter 71 (Senate Bill 3), Preserve Telehealth Access Act of 2021 (Act) required MHCC to study the impact of telehealth and provide recommendations on coverage and payment levels relative to in-person care. In September 2021, the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago was competitively selected to conduct a telehealth study in accordance with the Act. NORC completed study activities that considered use of audio-only and audio-visual technologies in the delivery of somatic and behavioral health services. A technical findings report prepared by NORC informed MHCC's development of recommendations. The recommendations recognize that telehealth should remain a feature of care delivery and support maintaining provisions in the Act to ensure access to care. Recommendations also identify a need to further assess cost-effectiveness and quality of telehealth, and its impact on health equity. The recommendations and supporting rationale are part of a final report submitted to the Senate Finance Committee and House Health and Government Operations Committee and are intended to provide a framework for future telehealth legislation. A high-level summary of the recommendations and supporting rationale is available here. Click here for more information on the study.
Historical information is available on MHCC telehealth grants here and in the Telehealth Grants Summary Table.
MHCC Resources
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Health Care Providers
A Telehealth Virtual Resource Center with information and tools to help
practices implement and expand telehealth services
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Health Care Consumers
Educational materials, including answers to frequently asked questions about
virtual care |
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On-Demand Webinars
Presentations on a variety of telehealth topics, including compliance and
reimbursement, consumer engagement, and school-based telehealth
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Helpful Links
HIPAA and Telehealth
Guidance for ensuring telehealth practice is compliant with federal and State regulations
Maryland Medicaid Telehealth Program
Information, including frequently asked questions about the Maryland Medicaid Telehealth Program
Mid-Atlantic Telehealth Resource Center
One of 14 national Telehealth Resource Centers providing technical assistance and other resources to advance telehealth, particularly in rural and medically underserved communities
Additional Information
Health Equity and Telehealth - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Telehealth in Rural Communities – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders – Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Developing a School-Based Telehealth Strategy - U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
Contact
For more information, contact Justine Springer by phone 410-764-3574 or email at justine.springer@maryland.gov.