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| Vernon R Pertelle |
The New Healthcare Normal under the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act (PPACA) contains several provisions that create new and emerging
opportunities for RTs to leverage technologies to improve health outcomes and
reduce costs associated with the care of patients COPD.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS’),
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMI) is charged with identifying
innovative health care delivery models that utilize electronic monitoring or
Telehealth to coordinate patient care throughout the healthcare continuum. Telehealth creates the capacity for allied
health personnel and physician extenders to provide health services for patients
with chronic conditions such as COPD.
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are required to promote evidence-based medicine
and increase patient engagement, coordinate care of patients and report on
quality and cost measures (meaningful use), to demonstrate their value in improving outcomes of patients with COPD.
Telehealth and other unobtrusive enabling technologies along with the
expertise of RTs are essential for ACOs to succeed. The face to face requirement, in which
physicians certify the medical necessity for skilled home health care services under
Medicare Part A or Durable Medical Equipment (DME) under Part B; can be
accomplished through Telehealth in coordination with the RT in the home for Medicare
beneficiaries with COPD.
The PPACA also allows for a "Health Home" for patients covered
under Medicaid (Section 2703; State Option to Provide Health Homes for Chronic
Conditions) as an alternative for patients with COPD in which wireless health
technology [or Telehealth] is used to coordinate care, improve the management
of complex respiratory conditions and ensure full patient engagement with their
treatment plan. The provision supports the use of a team of professionals
including RTs to develop the framework for a comprehensive Health Home through
the use of Telehealth.
The scope
and impact of many of the provisions within the PPACA will be revealed as the rules and regulations are implemented. The opportunities for new and
innovative programs involving the use of RTs are great; however requires us as
a profession to collaborate, put aside differences and create services and programs to care for patients with COPD. However, we must eliminate silos and I dare say – competition – in order to establish lasting
solutions for RTs to thrive in the New Healthcare Normal.
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