Telehealth

Target announced June 17 it will begin offering free access to telemedicine visits for employees through the end of the year.

Telehealth became a necessary tool for health systems and patients across the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic to access needed healthcare remotely.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma penned an op-ed for CNN outlining how her agency is thinking about the future of healthcare as the pandemic progresses.

U.S. Reps. G.K. Butterfield, D-N.C., and Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., introduced a bill on June 12 that would codify Medicare reimbursement for community health centers and rural health clinics for telehealth services.

Rennova Health plans to spin off its diagnostics and software businesses to create a company focused on providing telehealth, the West Palm Beach, Fla.-based provider said last week. 

An article published by the Epic Health Research Network outlined data on the top 10 telehealth visit diagnoses during the height of the pandemic.

When David Tam, MD, joined Lewes, Del.-based Beebe Healthcare as CEO in February, one of his top priorities was examining the system's telehealth program and finding ways to optimize it.

While investing in high-speed broadband is necessary to expand access to telehealth in rural and underserved areas, communities will need to work with local healthcare organizations to develop strategies that meet their unique needs.

The Federal Communications Commission has approved 10 waves of COVID-19 telehealth program applications, funneling $104 million in funding to healthcare providers across 42 states and Washington, D.C.  

Health systems across the nation drastically expanded telehealth services during the pandemic so patients could receive care while social distancing and minimizing the virus spread.