The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers: COVID-19 Assistance

Summary

On January 31, 2020, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a Public Health Emergency (PHE). During this public health emergency, the Secretary of HHS has taken action to encourage the use of telehealth. Telehealth generally refers to a health care provider’s use of information and communication technology in the delivery of clinical and nonclinical health care services. The use of telehealth during public health emergencies can assist health care professionals with, for example, reserving in-person care for patients with critical health care needs and diminishing the spread of communicable diseases. Some stakeholders, however, are experiencing challenges with establishing, implementing, and offering virtual health care services through telehealth programs.

The National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Centers, referred to in this report as the TRC Consortium, is helping stakeholders (state and local health care facilities, health care administrators, chief financial officers, health care providers, and patients) respond to COVID-19 through the use of telehealth. The TRC Consortium is the grantee of the Telehealth Resource Center Program, which was established by the Health Care Safety Net Amendments of 2002 (P.L. 107-251, as amended). The TRC Consortium provides short- and long-term assistance, access to telehealth experts, policy analysis, technology assessments, education and training materials, and specialized tools and templates.