Center for Connected Health Policy

09/04/2026

Digital health technologies are no longer simply an add-on to traditional cancer prevention programs. According to a new commentary published in Cancer Causes & Control, the rapid expansion of virtual platforms for cancer-related psychosocial and behavioral interventions may be fundamentally redefining how prevention reaches populations, rather than merely offering a supplementary digital channel alongside established in-person services. The paper, authored by Chinenye Lynette Ejezie of Towson University, proposes a framework for thinking about cancer prevention delivery across in-person, digital, and hybrid modalities, and argues that the time has come to rethink which interventions belong where.

Digital health technologies are no longer simply an add-on to traditional cancer prevention programs. According to a new commentary published in Cancer Causes & Control, the rapid expansion of

09/03/2026

Providers who furnish telehealth services from their homes and have a separate physical practice location associated with a Medicare Part B-enrolled group practice do not have to report their home addresses on their Medicare enrollment applications. Instead, they can enroll and bill from their physical practice location as if the service were provided in person.

Key Updates Providers who furnish telehealth services from their homes and have a separate physical practice location associated with a Medicare Part B-enrolled group practice do not have to report their home addresses on their Medicare enrollment applications. Instead, they can enroll and bill from...

09/02/2026

Christos Vaklavas, MD, discusses geographic and telehealth barriers to cancer care access across Utah and the broader Mountain West. https://www.ajmc.com/view/distance-telehealth-access-complicate-cancer-care-in-the-mountain-west

09/01/2026

With funding from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA), Office for the Advancement of Telehealth (OAT), the Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) has created a new resource, the CCHP RHTP & Telehealth Database [download only], which itemizes the initial telehealth elements included within each state’s submitted plan for the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP). The RHTP was authorized under HR 1 in 2025 and provides $50 billion over five years to be allocated to eligible states to strengthen rural communities by improving health care access, quality and outcomes. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) oversees the program. All 50 states applied and were granted varying levels of funding for 2026. Future years of funding will be dependent upon meeting certain measures and goals over this first year.

This new database from CCHP itemizes the initial telehealth elements included within each state’s submitted plan for the RHT Program.

09/01/2026

For Pennington, virtual care was especially helpful during the early part of his recovery, when getting around was more difficult and he felt uneasy about being away from home for long periods of time.

“The videoconferences allowed me to not have to do that, to not have to go into public places,” he said.

Pennington said telehealth makes it possible to stay connected to care without the added stress of traveling to appointments while managing sensitive symptoms. That comfort matters, especially at a time when everyday outings could feel overwhelming.

Frazier said telehealth can be an effective option for Veterans receiving pelvic health care because appointments often focus on education, symptom review and home exercise guidance.

Gerry Pennington participates in TelePhysical Therapy at home while recovering from surgery.

08/31/2026

Out-of-state doctors who consult with patients in New Jersey through remote telehealth services can’t proceed with a challenge to a law requiring them to be licensed in the state, a federal appeals court said.

The US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit on Monday refused to revive a lawsuit in which two highly specialized physicians who reside in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts said New Jersey’s doctor licensing requirement violated their First Amendment free-speech rights.

Out-of-state doctors who consult with patients in New Jersey through remote telehealth services can’t proceed with a challenge to a law requiring them to be licensed in the state, a federal appeals court said.

08/28/2026

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration submitted a final telemedicine special registration rule for review on Tuesday to the Office of Management and Budget's Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA).

The DEA wants to finalize a framework for the e-prescribing of controlled substances. While the agency is now approaching a permanent federal framework for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine, the American Telemedicine Association says its advocacy arm, ATA Action, is actively engaging OMB about the review.

An unpublished draft final rule for a federal telemedicine controlled substance prescribing registry is under OMB review. The American Telemedicine Association says the welcome step initiates stalled policy conversations.

08/27/2026

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, telehealth prescribing flexibilities introduced during the COVID-19 public health emergency have been subject to ongoing regulatory review, and the rules governing remote prescribing of controlled substances continue to evolve. Understanding them helps patients work out what a virtual visit can realistically do.

Telehealth can prescribe most routine medications in every state — but controlled substances like ADHD stimulants and buprenorphine follow a separate federal and state rulebook that's still evolving post-COVID. Here are the six questions to ask before your first virtual visit.

08/26/2026

Managing diabetes often means making dozens of small, important decisions every day. A collaborative study between the University of Mississippi and the Mississippi Diabetes Network found that personalized telehealth coaching can help participants feel more confident making those choices while improving their health.

Managing diabetes often means making dozens of small, important decisions every day. A collaborative study between the University of Mississippi and the Mississippi Diabetes Network found that personalized telehealth coaching can help participants feel more confident making those choices while impro...

08/25/2026

Wearable technologies, from continuous glucose monitors and smartwatches to fitness trackers and smart rings, are increasingly capable of collecting health information outside traditional health care settings.

A new technology assessment examines the potential benefits and challenges of using wearable devices to inform clinical decision-making and the role AI may play in expanding their capabilities. We also cover the RAPID Pathway proposed by CMS to Accelerate Medicare Coverage of Breakthrough Devices