those that use such services. In particu‐ lar, the rule extends the option of a streamlined credentialing and privileg‐ ing process to those small hospitals and CAHs that use the telemedicine services of practitioners from distant‐ site telemedicine entities, both Medicare‐ and non‐Medicare‐partici‐ pating, in order to improve access to specialty services for patients while fur‐ ther reducing the regulatory burden imposed on hospitals and CAHs. A hospital or CAH that furnishes telemedicine services to its patients via an agreement with a “distant” hospital or telemedicine entity may now rely upon information furnished by the dis‐ tant hospital (often a larger medical center) or telemedicine entity when making credentialing and privileging decisions for the physicians and practi‐ tioners at the distant site that will fur‐ nish the services.


Telemedicine is the use of electronic information and telecommunications


Telemedicine is the use of electronic information and telecommunications technologies to provide professional health care services.


technologies to provide professional health care services. Telemedicine is often used to connect practitioners and clinical experts in large hospitals or academic medical centers with patients in smaller hospitals or CAHs, which are typically located in more remote loca‐ tions. Telemedicine can assure that these remotely located patients enjoy the same access to potentially life‐sav‐ ing technologies and expertise that are available to patients in more populated parts of the country.


The final rule was developed in response to concerns about the urgent need to preserve access to telemedi‐ cine for patients.


Today’s final rule updates the condi‐


tions of participation for hospitals and CAHs. Conditions of participation are rules that apply to health care organi‐ zations that seek to begin and continue participating in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. The conditions are the baseline health and safety stan‐ dards and are the foundation for improving quality and protecting the health and safety of beneficiaries. CMS implements these standards through state departments of health and accrediting organizations recognized by CMS (through a process called "deeming"), which review provider practices to assure they meet or exceed Medicare’s condition stan‐ dards. EMS


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