Many patients and healthcare providers discovered the benefits telehealth can bring when COVID kept us at home and began using it for conditions and visit types unheard of in the past.
Amazon.com recently announced plans to roll out its Amazon Care product to all of its employees. Considering Amazon's history, the next obvious step would be to try and make money from the product by rolling it out to customers.
With an aging population, Maine seniors have borne the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our seniors often have many medical diagnoses and issues, and go to doctor’s visits frequently. Since March last year, they’ve had to put themselves at risk for COVID-19 infection or miss vital appointments. In a typical year, many Maine seniors are forced to drive several hours across the state for specialized appointments at hospitals in Portland or Bangor. Not only is this a time and cost burden for our seniors, but it also discourages them from seeing their providers regularly. The added risk of disease has exacerbated the issue, resulting in Mainers delaying treatments and diagnoses.
CMS finalized a rule that expands Medicare coverage for telehealth services. This final rule, along with other new rules and waivers by the federal government, state governments and private payors, has significantly expanded access to and coverage of virtual health are services in response to the public health emergency and some of these changes are now becoming permanent.
Americans for Prosperity-Florida launched a statewide initiative Monday in support of a bill that would update the state’s telemedicine laws. The “Care You Can Call On” initiative highlights HB 247, a bill by Reps. Tom Fabricio and Mike Giallombardo.
It is important that employers and benefits consultants discriminate between appropriate and inappropriate use, as well as understand how current trends will affect the utilization and value of telehealth moving forward.