Trump signs rural telemedicine executive order

telehealth

President Donald Trump signed an executive order earlier this week that his administration says will provide millions of citizens with healthcare services during a global pandemic.

The executive order seeks to expand access to telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in rural communities.  The White House says the expansion of telehealth services offers benefits to Americans living in rural communities, who might otherwise not have access to these services.

The order requires the Department of Health and Human Services to announce a new payment model testing innovations that empower rural hospitals to transform healthcare in their communities on a broader scale.

To improve connectivity, the president’s order also directs the federal government to launch a joint initiative in 30 days to improve the healthcare communication infrastructure and expand rural healthcare services.  The White House says these telehealth expansions build on the work the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has done during the public health emergency to more than double allowable telehealth services.