School-Based Telehealth

Project Overview

This Year 5 initiative builds upon the progress of the UMMC Center of Excellence’s school-based telehealth (SBTH) program by strategically addressing reimbursement and sustainability challenges identified through ongoing program evaluation. The project targets billing and reimbursement barriers that can be addressed through payor contracting, workflow refinement, and analysis of reimbursement trends.

Using service utilization data from 31 school districts, the Year 5 work will identify consistently reimbursed CPT codes, assess claim denial patterns, and compare reimbursement levels across payors. This analysis will inform the creation of a reimbursement matrix that highlights effective billing practices and supports financial sustainability.

In parallel, the project will evaluate the clinical value of telehealth interventions by examining their impact on downstream healthcare utilization. This includes measuring the potential reduction in emergency room visits following telehealth encounters, as well as identifying trends in follow-up care coordination. These findings will offer important insights into how school-based telehealth can contribute to more efficient and proactive healthcare delivery.

Together, these efforts aim to solidify a sustainable model for school-based telehealth that is both financially viable and clinically impactful, supporting continued service delivery beyond the HRSA COE funding period.

The School-Based Telehealth program includes everything school nurses need to initiate and lead a video visit with a student and UMMC provider. This includes:

• Complete training on how to use the equipment and system
• Prompt access to UMMC telehealth providers for minor medical care
• Access to an app-based behavioral health tool to supplement video visits with mental health providers.
• HIPAA-compliant secure laptop for access to a virtual visit platform
• A webcam that can be placed where needed for video visits
• A digital USB otoscope with lenses for
  • general exams
  • ear, nose and throat exams
  • dermatology exams
• A digital USB stethoscope to listen to heart and lung sounds
• Connected to a HIPAA-compliant Electronic Health Record

Any information regarding this project, please contact Christina Wright; Director.