After changing policies to cover telehealth more broadly during the pandemic, some insurers are scaling it back even as COVID-19 cases surge in some states, according to USA Today.

Only 31 percent of hospitals and health systems are using capabilities within their EHR systems to conduct telehealth visits, according to a recent Sage Growth Partners report.

Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners is investing in expanded telemedicine and digital capabilities while closing seven clinics and two specialty centers permanently, according to a local ABC affiliate.

Since establishing the Hauser Institute for Health Innovation in June 2019, NewYork-Presbyterian has significantly scaled its telehealth programs and trained thousands of physicians to provide virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FCC approved 70 additional funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, providing financial support for healthcare providers to boost telehealth and virtual care services.

Teladoc Health completed its acquisition of telehealth provider InTouch Health on July 1.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights a large number of opportunities for the future of telehealth. Hospitals and health systems are expanding beyond their traditional four walls and using telemedicine to bridge communications gaps using mobile technology.

While telemedicine has rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, its effect on patient-physician relationships is not likely to create widespread transformation across the healthcare system, according to David Blumenthal, MD.

he House of Representatives recently introduced the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, a bill calling for the permanence of telehealth regulations introduced in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

From increasing comfort levels to limiting spread of COVID-19 infections, hospitals and health systems are exploring ways to bring hospital-level care to patients directly from their homes.