Telehealth

Also known as telemedicine, this area of care helps connect doctors and patients remotely, without requiring in-person visits. This virtual care strategy is beneficial for managing chronic conditions, delivering lab test or diagnostic imaging results, post-surgical follow-ups, assessing skin conditions, online counseling and many other healthcare services. It also can improve care, care access and outcomes for patients.

DEA wants to permanently anchor some COVID-era prescription regulations
The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the adoption of some COVID-era prescription practices around certain controlled substances. The agency published a framework to guide any such changes Jan. 17.
Telehealth diabetes management offering now part of Amazon marketplace
The integration was announced during the annual JP Morgan Health Care Conference in San Francisco. The program works through Amazon Benefits Manager to remotely help patients with weight and blood pressure management.
Amazon One Medical sued after patient prescribed inhaler dies in ER
A lawsuit filed by the family of Philip Tong, 45, claims he was experiencing severe emergency symptoms that staff at Amazon One Medical should have recognized as life-threatening.
DEA, HHS extend telehealth controlled substance prescription rule
The COVID-era flexibility has been extended until 2026 as the DEA and HHS work on a permanent fix that will appease regulators and providers alike.
Association of 300 telehealth groups urges Congress to extend COVID-era rules
The American Telemedicine Association, an industry lobby representing companies and providers, fears a crackdown from the DEA would harm patients who rely on virtual care to get vital treatments.

DEA wants to permanently anchor some COVID-era prescription regulations

The Drug Enforcement Administration is proposing the adoption of some COVID-era prescription practices around certain controlled substances. The agency published a framework to guide any such changes Jan. 17.

Telehealth diabetes management offering now part of Amazon marketplace

The integration was announced during the annual JP Morgan Health Care Conference in San Francisco. The program works through Amazon Benefits Manager to remotely help patients with weight and blood pressure management.

Amazon One Medical sued after patient prescribed inhaler dies in ER

A lawsuit filed by the family of Philip Tong, 45, claims he was experiencing severe emergency symptoms that staff at Amazon One Medical should have recognized as life-threatening.

DEA, HHS extend telehealth controlled substance prescription rule

The COVID-era flexibility has been extended until 2026 as the DEA and HHS work on a permanent fix that will appease regulators and providers alike.

Association of 300 telehealth groups urges Congress to extend COVID-era rules

The American Telemedicine Association, an industry lobby representing companies and providers, fears a crackdown from the DEA would harm patients who rely on virtual care to get vital treatments.

Eli Lilly releases cheaper, single-use vials of weight loss drug

The new vials of Zepbound are available exclusively through the Eli Lilly telehealth platform.

Walmart sells virtual care business to Fabric

MeMD offers on-demand telehealth services to more than 5 million patients. Fabric said the buyout will be a smooth transition with no impact on patient care.

AMA will aggressively support permanent telemedicine reimbursement

The American Medical Association said it will lobby for an indefinite extension of Medicare reimbursement for telemedicine services, fighting a Dec. 31, 2024, sunset date.

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

Biden chooses semaglutide for next round of Medicare price negotiations—Trump gets final say

The final list also included diabetes drugs sold by Boehringer Ingelheim and Merck. The first round of drug price negotiations reduced the Medicare prices for 10 popular drugs by up to 79%.

AI in Healthcare

4 ways HHS plans to help shape a national strategy for healthcare AI

HHS has thought through the ways AI can and should become an integral part of healthcare, human services and public health. Last Friday—possibly just days ahead of seating a new secretary—the agency released a detailed plan for getting there from here.

Cardiovascular Business

FDA announces recall after Philips heart monitor software failed to send alerts—multiple deaths reported

Philips is recalling the software associated with its Mobile Cardiac Outpatient Telemetry devices after certain high-risk ECG events were never routed to trained cardiology technicians as intended. The issue, which lasted for two years, has been linked to more than 100 injuries.