ATA offers recommendations to insurance commissioners group

The American Telemedicine Association (ATA) shared thoughts on how the National Association of Insurance Commissioners States could improve efforts related to the 1996 Managed Care Plan Network Adequacy Model Act.

ATA submitted recommendations, including "adding a telemedicine definition, updating certain language to reflect the care delivery innovations and expanding the access plan to include a reference to telemedicine-provided services," according to a letter sent to the organization. ATA also recommended that the networks create a directory highlighting participating telemedicine providers using the following standards: identification of telemedicine providers in the network, the states in which they are licensed and a basic description of the telemedicine services they offer. The carrier should be required to make the telemedicine provider directory available electronically on the carrier’s website and in a print version to be available upon request, according to the ATA.

Read the complete letter.

Beth Walsh,

Editor

Editor Beth earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism and master’s in health communication. She has worked in hospital, academic and publishing settings over the past 20 years. Beth joined TriMed in 2005, as editor of CMIO and Clinical Innovation + Technology. When not covering all things related to health IT, she spends time with her husband and three children.

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.