mHealth Intelligence (8/1, Melchionna) reports, “the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) worked with the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to publish new guidance that seeks to eliminate discrimination in the telehealth arena.” The COVID-19 pandemic has brought on a “rapid expansions in healthcare access, particularly through the use of telehealth,” and even though “telehealth is a valuable resource, discrimination does exist, leading to barriers to care.” In fact, “research has shown that racial minorities, older age groups, and those living in rural areas use telehealth less frequently.” The new “guidance aims to ensure equitable care for those with disabilities, including people who are blind, deaf, or do not speak English proficiently,” and “to curb discrimination, providers can take several actions, including making changes to their policies and practices to provide additional support for disabled people who wish to have a virtual visit, such as implementing sign language interpretation and language assistance services.”
HHS, DOJ Issue Guidance On Federal Nondiscrimination Laws And Telehealth.
Bloomberg Law (7/29, Subscription Publication) reported that HHS and the Department of Justice “have partnered to issue guidance on federal nondiscrimination laws and telehealth, according to a news release Friday.” The guidance “clarifies the accessibility requirements under federal nondiscrimination laws for people with disabilities and limited English proficient persons in health care provided via telehealth, according to the department.” A list of resources “for additional information about telehealth and civil rights protections has also been included.”