A new study by researchers at the Bloomberg School of Public Health found that despite a spike in telemedicine adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly fewer Americans have received primary care consultations or undergone cholesterol and blood pressure assessments — two critical parameters of cardiac health.
Teladoc Health and Livongo Health investors, in separate special shareholder meetings, overwhelmingly voted in favor of the merger of the two companies. Teladoc revealed this in a press release issued on Thursday, adding that in both cases, more than 99% of voters approved the deal. The merger was announced in August. It will take the form of a share exchange, in which one share of Livongo will be swapped for 0.592 shares of Teladoc and $11.33 in cash; all told, the deal was valued at $18.5 billion.
In less than a year, telehealth has gone from a niche rarity to a common practice. Its ability to ensure physical distance, preserve personal protective equipment and prevent the spread of infection among health care workers and patients has been invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The public health emergency (PHE) for COVID-19 has brought about many changes to the way healthcare is practiced, delivered, and reimbursed. This article will discuss some of the major recent changes to telehealth on the federal level.
Before many people had made it to work Monday morning, U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, D-AL, was at work in Washington, introducing a bill alongside a bipartisan contingent of lawmakers to provide Medicare reimbursements for audio and video telehealth services furnished by home health agencies during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen a surge over the last few weeks.
It's a no brainer that healthcare is shifting away from "fee for service" and more toward "value-based care". As this shift continues, innovative companies focusing on wholistic, patient-centric care models will stand out from the rest.