Blog

Published November 18, 2025 By Jan Ileto, Policy and Regulatory Affairs Manager   With recent congressional action and evolving CMS guidance, providers may face confusion about what’s currently allowed and what is not. Please find the specific information you need below to navigate the current complexity. This table has been updated to account for updates, clarifications,Read more

Published November 14, 2025 By Sylvia Trujillo, MPP, JD A Message to C-Suite Leaders Facing Shrinking Resources, Workforce Strain, and Growing Demand Across rural and small-community health organizations, you’re facing a daunting combination: reimbursement pressures (including threats to Medicaid and 340B funding), rising administrative burden, persistent staff shortages, and increasing complexity of care. But it’s notRead more

November 14, 2025 | Sylvia Trujillo, Executive Director On November 6, 2025, the FDA’s Digital Health Advisory Committee convened a public meeting to explore how generative AI—especially large language models—is transforming digital mental health tools. The Committee has not yet promulgated new regulations, but the meeting clearly signaled that regulatory expectations are evolving for AI‑enabled tools in mental healthRead more

Keeping up with AI in California: 2025 Bills Authored By: Rebekah Glick (March 13, 2025) In a rapidly evolving digital landscape, California is at the forefront of health care AI. In today’s post, we’ll focus on bills that have been introduced in the current 2025-2026 California legislative session. Please note that these bills have beenRead more

Authored By: Sylvia Trujillo, CTRC Executive Director Our State continues to see an unprecedented surge in natural disasters, from devastating wildfires in Los Angeles to extreme heat in the Central Valley to earthquakes. These catastrophic events don’t just leave physical destruction in their wake – they create a growing mental health crisis that our traditionalRead more

California, known for its diverse geography and vibrant communities, faces a significant challenge in healthcare: access to specialty care. From the bustling urban centers of Los Angeles and San Francisco to the remote, rural regions of the Central Valley and the Sierra Nevada, patients across the state experience disparities in accessing specialists for conditions requiringRead more

Authored by Sylvia Trujillo The American Relief Act of 2025: Keeping Telehealth Medicare Coverage and other Flexibilities on the Table — for Now Over the weekend, the President signed the American Relief Act of 2025, a significant piece of legislation aimed at continuing essential healthcare programs and extending telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries through MarchRead more

This checklist from the California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC) supports healthcare providers in delivering effective and secure two-way interactive audio/video telehealth services. It guides providers through crucial steps, including verifying clinical appropriateness, obtaining required consents, and ensuring patients have adequate technology and a private setting. It also covers provider conduct, preparation for potential technology issues,Read more

This comprehensive checklist from the California Telehealth Resource Center (CTRC) helps providers determine when audio-only telehealth is clinically appropriate and feasible for patients. It covers essential considerations such as clinical suitability, technology limitations, and necessary consent for Medi-Cal and Medicare patients. Additionally, the checklist ensures patient preparedness, privacy, and establishes an emergency communication plan. DesignedRead more

With extreme weather events becoming more frequent, California’s healthcare system is adopting new technologies to safeguard at-risk populations. Tools such as Remote Physiological Monitoring provide continuous health data, while secure texting platforms enable immediate patient outreach. Together, these solutions help providers deliver real-time assistance and vital information during heat waves and air quality alerts. ByRead more