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.

While the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders put pressure on health insurers to expand telehealth coverage, some payers are taking steps to further expand coverage and implement permanent policies. 

The Federal Communications Commission approved its 10th wave of COVID-19 telehealth program applications, awarding another $20.18 million to 67 healthcare providers across the country.

Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare recently began providing hospital-level care to patients at home through its digital health platform and remote monitoring technologies. 

CMS Administrator Seema Verma discussed the prospects for extending telehealth coverage and pay rates permanently during a recent STAT virtual event.

To help maintain the telemedicine growth achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic, UPMC's chief medical information officer Robert Bart, MD, is focused on opportunities in urgent care, post-operative and prenatal care.

As hospitals and health systems navigate widespread telehealth use in wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, transforming traditional in-person processes, such as patient intake, are the natural next steps along the patient care journey.

Wilmington, Del.-based ChristianaCare developed a new virtual telehealth service that offers daily monitoring of employees for COVID-19 symptoms and testing for employers and businesses.