First Healthcare Compliance CONNECT January 2022

Telehealth Modalities
Several telehealth modalities allow [health care
personnel] and patients to connect using technology to
deliver health care:
Synchronous: This includes real-time telephone or live
audio-video interaction typically with a patient using a
smartphone, tablet, or computer.
In some cases, peripheral medical equipment (e.g.,
digital stethoscopes, otoscopes, ultrasounds) can be
used by another HCP (e.g., nurse, medical assistant
[italics added]) physically with the patient, while
the consulting medical provider conducts a remote
evaluation.
Asynchronous: This includes “store and forward”
technology where messages, images, or data are
collected at one point in time and interpreted or
responded to later. Patient portals can facilitate this type
of communication between provider and patient through
secure messaging.
Remote patient monitoring: This allows direct
transmission of a patient’s clinical measurements from
a distance (may or may not be in real time) to their
healthcare provider.
Scope of practice resources:
AAMA website: www.aama-ntl.org
• Check the right column of the homepage for
COVID-19 updates.
• Click below “State Scope of Practice Laws” near
the left bottom of the homepage for the medical
assisting laws of all states.
• Put your cursor over “CMA Today” in the top
ribbon of the homepage; click on “Public Affairs
Articles” in the dropdown menu for articles from
2005 to the present.
• Click below “Legal Eye: On Medical Assisting” in
the left middle of the homepage for blog posts.
Note the following recent posts:
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Clinical Task Delegation in Iowa
Medical Assistants in Ambulatory Surgery
Centers
CDC Affirms Medical Assistants’ Role in
Telehealth
Medical Assistants Answer the Call to Work in
Acute Care Settings
Testing Period Extension for the AUC Program
Suicide Safety Plan Delegation
New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program:
Medical Assistants as Delegates
Permissible Delegation of Influenza Vaccination
Administration in Michigan
Permissible Medication Reconciliation by
Medical Assistants
The Delegation of Off-Site Blood Draws in
Washington
Donald A. Balasa, JD,
MBA, has served as CEO
and Legal Counsel of the
American Association of
Medical Assistants since
1990. Don received both
his baccalaureate and law
degrees from Northwestern
University and his MBA
in economics from the
University of Chicago. Mr. Balasa has taught courses
at the DePaul University Graduate School of Business
and Trinity International University. He can be reached at
dbalasa@aama-ntl.org
Be sure to view Don’s webinar here. Take a look at our
recent book: HIPAA Privacy and Security, and our online
compliance training courses such as What is HIPAA?, and
HIPAA Business Associate Agreements Under HITECH.
And check out Mr. Balasa’s other recordings and blogs
with us The Role of Medical Assistants in Medicare
CCM and TCM, Q&A: The Role of Medical Assistants in
Medicare CCM and TCM and an audio version of his
webinar found here.
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