UMTRC Telehealth scores $1 million to expand

UMTRC, a federally funded program of the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA), serves four states in helping to establish, grow and sustain critical telehealth operations.

TERRE HAUTE, Indiana – Telehealth continues to grow exponentially across the United States, and telehealth operations in the Midwest will now continue to benefit from the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center (UMTRC). The organization, a pioneer and long-time champion of Midwest telehealth expansion, was awarded $975,000 as part of a major three-year federal grant ($325,000 a year) from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

“The need for and expansion of telehealth literally exploded during the 2020 lockdown and COVID-19 crisis,” said Cara Veale, CEO of the Indiana Rural Health Association. “The UMTRC has played an important role in helping hospitals, clinics, physicians and medical professionals institute and bring high-impact telehealth operations up to speed.”

The UMTRC is one of 12 Regional and 2 National Telehealth Resource Centers, one for policy and one for technology, that are funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) and HRSA’s Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, which is part of the Office of Rural Health Policy.

“The pandemic year was a transformational time for telehealth services, as telehealth went from an emerging alternative to a dominant solution for the delivery of certain types of healthcare, including urgent situations,” said Becky Sanders, UMTRC Program Director, “Telehealth as a market accelerated from a few million dollars annually a decade ago to an incredible $10 billion in 2020.”

The industry, she said, is expected to more than triple in size over the next few years to approach $40 billion in service value.

Telehealth is recognized as critically important at the federal level. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra outlined the importance of telehealth when he announced the new three-year grants: “Telehealth is crucial to providing convenient and sustained care for patients.”

 Added HRSA acting Administrator Diana Espinosa, “Telehealth expands access to care and is a vital tool for improving health equity by providing timely clinical assessment and treatment for our most vulnerable populations.” She went on to say that the new funding “will help drive the innovation necessary to build clinical networks, educational opportunities, and trusted resources to further advance telehealth.”

“UMRTC has positively impacted hospitals and clinics in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio since its inception over a decade ago,” said Veale. “The UMTRC staff recently hosted the third annual UMTRC Conference, featuring telehealth experts from around the country who disseminated important information about telehealth administration and expansion.”  The UMTRC also regularly offers popular webinars from telehealth professionals and experts in how to improve and elevate telehealth.

“UMTRC is truly a recognized and important authority on telehealth adoption, delivery, compliance and reimbursement in today’s world of complex healthcare delivery,” she added.

The UMTRC regularly posts new information and blogs on the UMTRC website. The organization also hosts virtual office hours and a regular bi-monthly podcast titled “A Virtual View” that features industry professionals and experts.

For more information, visit: https://www.umtrc.org/

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About the Indiana Rural Health Association

The Indiana Rural Health Association was organized in 1997 and is a nonprofit organization working to enhance the health and well-being of rural populations in Indiana through leadership, education, advocacy, collaboration, and resource development. The strength of the organization is through the present diverse membership and the founding organizers who are committed to impacting the health of citizens through the identification of rural health issues and through advocacy roles in both the public and private sectors. IRHA membership is made up of 3,300 diverse individuals and organizations, making it the largest state rural health association in the nation, and a nationally recognized leader in rural health care. For more information, visit www.indianaruralhealth.org

 About the Upper Midwest Telehealth Resource Center