This is Naomi Diaz with the Becker's Digital Health podcast.

Here's your daily industry news briefing for today, October 8.

First, 10 health systems are teaming up to explore strategy, ethics, governance, and scaling of iGentic AI at their organizations.

The first cohort of the collaborative organized by digital transformation company Avia will focus on using AI agents for nursing clinical support, customer service, and contact centers, as well as patient experience according to an October 8 news release.

Some of the 10 health systems include Bon Secours, Mercy Health, Boston Children's Hospital, Children's Wisconsin, MedStar Health, Motif Cancer Center, and more.

Second, some health systems have started pausing telehealth visits for Medicare beneficiaries as the government shutdown continues.

Pandemic era telehealth flexibilities expired October 1 with the federal government stoppage, cutting off CMS reimbursement for many virtual visits.

While many health systems are still waiting for a resolution between Congress and president Donald Trump, some organizations have begun to suspend telehealth access for Medicare and Medicaid patients.

The American Telemedicine Association estimates that about 30% of hospitals and health systems have halted their Medicare telehealth offerings amid the shutdown.

Quote, Providence proactively prepared for telehealth services to return to pre pandemic guidelines, which limited the type of telehealth services that quantify for reimbursement, including restrictions for audio only visits, types of service, and sites of service, a spokesperson for the 51 hospital system based in Renton, Washington told Becker's.

Quote, due to this change, some Medicare patients are being asked to come in for appointments that were originally scheduled as telehealth to ensure their care is covered, end quote.

NYU lingo and health posted a notice on its website stating, quote, due to the federal government shutdown, Medicare and Medicaid patients are unable to schedule new telehealth and video visits.

If you already have a visit scheduled, it will continue as planned.

If not, contact your doctor's office to schedule an in person appointment, end quote.

San Diego based Scripps Health has also rescheduled more than 400 Medicare telehealth appointments as in person visits since October 1, while another 600 plus have remained virtual because they're part of the health system's ACO, the San Diego Union Tribune reported.

Shane Tillman, vice president and chief information and digital officer of Scripps Health, emailed to the newspaper, quote, some Medicare patients no longer eligible for a telehealth visit elect to keep their telehealth appointment with the knowledge Medicare is not currently covering the visit, and they may be financially responsible, end quote.

Saint Elizabeth Healthcare is also working to move Medicare telehealth patients to in person visits and telling those who wish to keep their appointments virtual that they may be billed, WCPO reported.

A spokesperson for New York City based NYC Health Plus Hospital, the nation's largest health system, said it is, quote, continuing telehealth appointments as usual for all patients, including those on Medicaid and Medicare.

Meanwhile, mass general Brigham and Sanford Health, they also said they are maintaining telehealth access as well.

Some health systems say they're still assessing the situation.

A Cleveland Clinic spokesperson told Becker's, quote, our goal is to minimize interruptions to the care our patients are receiving.

We are continuing to monitor this and are committed to the delivery of health care in compliance with regulatory guidelines, end quote.

At the same time, others are anticipate anticipating payback from CMS if and when the shutdown ends.

A spokesperson for Mercy told Becker's, quote, we're hopeful our government leaders will come to a solution quickly to protect the availability of telehealth care, which has served as a lifeline for patients in recent years, particularly those in parts of our country where access to certain health care services is not readily available.

Mercy remains committed to providing telehealth to our patients and hopes to receive reimbursement retroactively when the government reopens, end quote.

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