Healthcare Roundup: Roadblock for Telemedicine, Nursing Home Staff Training Waivers in IA, CO Vaccine Mandate & More

Rollback of Out-of-State Medical Practice Restrictions Creating Roadblock for Telemedicine:

During the darkest days of the pandemic, many states temporarily waived rules requiring licensed healthcare practitioners to hold a valid license where they treat patients. But states have been rolling back those waivers, which is increasing barriers for telehealth.

For instance, Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore recently had to notify over 1,000 telehealth patients living in Virginia - one of the states where such waivers are going away - that their appointments were “no longer feasible,” said Dr. Brian Hasselfeld, medical director of digital health and telemedicine at the facility.

As of mid-July, 17 states still had “licensure flexibilities” in place, according to the Alliance for Connected Care, a lobbying group that represents insurers, pharmacies, and tech companies.

That group and others have been urging states to extend their pandemic waivers, which a few have done. For example, Arizona, made its rules allowing out-of-state providers to practice telemedicine for Arizona residents permanent, as long as the providers register with the state and their home-state licenses are in good standing. And Connecticut extended its rules until June 2023. (KAISER HEALTH NEWS, ALLIANCE FOR CONNECTED CARE)

IA Waives Training Requirements for Some Nursing Home Staff:

The Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals is temporarily waiving training requirements for nurse aides who provide much of the direct patient care in nursing homes. The waivers, which effectively extend some of the regulatory relief granted to nursing homes by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) in the initial stages of the pandemic last year, will remain in effect at least until the federal declared state of emergency for COVID-19 ends. (IOWA CAPITAL DISPATCH)

CO Now Requiring Hospitals to Report Age, Vaccination Status of COVID-19 Patients:

Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment issued an update to a public health order last week requiring hospitals to report the age and vaccination status of their COVID-19 patients to the state. Hospitals will also have to report the number of intensive care beds they have available for adults and children. (DENVER POST, COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT)

Deferred Medical Care Contributing to Limited Availability of Hospital Beds in MN:

Minnesota’s Health Department reported last month that 95 percent of ICU beds in the state were occupied, along with 91 percent of hospital beds overall. The limited availability isn’t due just to COVID-19 patients but also at least in part to more people with health conditions having deferred care during the pandemic. (MPR NEWS)

RI Firefighters Union May Try to Block Vaccination Mandate:

The Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters is considering seeking a temporary injunction to block the implementation of the state’s mandate that all healthcare workers be vaccinated for COVID-19 by Oct. 1. Although the union “wholeheartedly endorses” COVID-19 vaccination, roughly a quarter of its 1,400 member firefighters, many of whom are also EMTs, haven’t been vaccinated for medical or other reasons, and sidelining them could leave fire departments shorthanded. (PROVIDENCE JOURNAL) 

SC Gov Signs Narcan Expansion Bill:

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) held a ceremonial signing ceremony last week for legislation (SB 571) expanding access to the drug overdose medication Naloxone. The new law will require doctors to co-prescribe Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan, when prescribing medications that put patients at risk of overdose. (WMBF NEWS, STATE NET)

-- Compiled by KOREY CLARK