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Despite the experts having used the terms Telemedicine and Telehealth for decades, it took a pandemic to make these tools mainstream. During the last few years, this practice has become more and more common within the delivery of healthcare services. The vital necessity of the pandemic boosted important changes to align policies, economics, and technology to simplify the execution of Telehealth.

Although many people and organizations use the terms interchangeably, there are some recognized differences. While Telemedicine refers to the use of technology to deliver healthcare services at distance, Telehealth has a broader meaning and refers not only to Telemedicine, but also to the use of digital information and communication technologies to provide remote healthcare assistance to patients, and non-clinical services such as training, and support to providers.

This allows healthcare professionals to bring timely attention to their patients, particularly those with limited access to healthcare, taking advantage of all technical information and communications tools we have at our fingertips.

In this seminar, attorney Eric Boughman addresses the fundamentals of Telehealth law, how it is used to improve healthcare services, accessibility, how services can be performed, and risks and open issues associated with Telehealth.

We will also discuss which professionals and entities are authorized to provide services and how can these services be performed. Open issues like location, communication, and payment will also be considered.

In discussing the use of Telehealth, we’ll talk about four main categories of services. Interactive audio-video, in which providers and patients can use videoconferencing to interact in real-time, and to provide diagnoses and treatment options; store and forward, where patients and providers can share electronically digital medical information for distant diagnosis and helpful guidance; remote patient monitoring, in which providers utilize Telehealth technology to gather medical information from patients, construe the data, and use that information to make a diagnosis or to bring medical care; and mobile health, which refers to the use of mobile devices (e.g. cellphones and tablets) to manage and track health circumstances.

Eric will also discuss how Telehealth can improve not only accessibility to healthcare for patients, but also accessibility to education for medical staff.

Insurance coverage is another critical issue discussed in this seminar. Attendees will learn how health insurance coverage for Telehealth services can vary depending on state laws and regulations.  We will also discuss the coverage provided by various payers.

From a license and payment perspective, we will cover updates in Medicare and Medicaid procedures and coverage, and we will go over the role of the private payers. New issues and new risks will also be discussed through the understanding of law enforcement actions.

Finally, attendees will learn about Telehealth policies and considerations. We will discuss the challenges that Telehealth presents in its implementation and development across the country. There are three main policy issues associated with Telehealth that will be considered:  coverage and reimbursement, licensure, and safety and security.

Learning Objective:

• Understanding the basics of Telehealth
• Identifying how Telehealth can be used
• Understanding the access to Telehealth services
• Identifying authorized providers
• Knowing the updates on license and payment (FL)
• Identifying new issues and new risks
• Understanding Telehealth policies and considerations

Areas Covered in the Session:

• Telehealth background
• How Telehealth is used
• Authorized providers
• How services can be performed
• Updates on license and payment
• New issues and risks
• Policies and considerations
• Live Q&A Session

Suggested Attendees:

• Legal counsel and other professional advisors to healthcare providers.
• Healthcare providers and staff.
• Hospital and healthcare facility administration.
• Vendors and contractors who work in the healthcare sector.
• Physician
• Nurses
• Physician Assistants
• Healthcare Billing and Coding Staff
• Credentialing and Enrollment Specialists
• Healthcare Administrative Personnel
• Clinic Managers
• Credentialing and Enrollment Specialists
• Healthcare Administrative Personnel
• Practice Managers
• Auditors
• Compliance Officers
• Medical record supervisors
• Health Information Management Administrators and Technicians
• Other Personnel Interested in Billing Privileges with the Medicare Program

Presenter Biography:

Eric Boughman is an AV-Rated Attorney and Certified Circuit Court Mediator whose law practice focuses on serving clients in the business of healthcare, technology, and other select industries. He relies on a diverse background to solve complex legal issues with a focus on compliance, risk management, and avoiding or reducing exposure to legal threats and lawsuits. His clients include businesses, professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs.

Eric spent the first decade of his career as a business litigator representing clients of all sizes, from Fortune 500 companies to local startups, in complex legal disputes. Over time, his experience and expertise grew, and Eric expanded his practice to provide a full range of comprehensive legal services, including regulatory, transactional, and general counsel for companies in the healthcare, technology, and med-tech space.

Eric particularly enjoys helping clients avoid legal troubles and aiding settlement among parties in dispute. The most rewarding components of his practice involve serving as a mediator (a neutral facilitator whose mission is to settle legal disputes) and general counsel services he provides for clients on a flat-fee basis.

Eric is a frequent writer and presenter on issues involving health law, privacy, technology, and asset protection. His writings have appeared in multiple American Bar Association publications, including The Florida Bar Journal, Forbes, Daily Business Review, Accounting Today, Kiplinger, Financial Advisor Magazine, Law360, and CEO World, among others.

Eric is admitted to practice law in Florida and Nevada, as well as in the U.S. Tax Court, and in several other courts, nationwide, pro hac vice. He is active with local bar associations, including serving as an appointed member of his local jurisdiction’s grievance committee, and is also active in several charitable endeavors in his local community.

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