Virtual care news, trends and reimbursement updates
Telehealth news covering program growth, utilization and payment. Becker's tracks telehealth reimbursement policy at the federal and state level and how virtual care fits into health system strategy.
Telehealth
As the coronavirus continues to spread across the U.S., states are continuing to take advantage of telehealth to help screen and treat patients with COVID-19.
The Trump administration on March 17 announced the expansion of Medicare telehealth coverage, which will allow beneficiaries to participate in virtual visits with their physicians amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telehealth companies are dealing with delays in services and crashes as huge volumes of patients are seeking to consult with their provider virtually, according to CNBC.
President Donald Trump on March 13 declared a national emergency over the coronavirus pandemic, funneling more than $42 billion in funds to expand resources such as telehealth across the country.
Teladoc Health on March 13 announced that patient visit volume rose 50 percent over the past week as the coronavirus continues to spread across the U.S.
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on March 15 announced that all payers must cover medically necessary telehealth services amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston Business Journal reports.
The Consumer Technology Association unveiled on March 12 a set of recommendations for efficient and effective use of virtual care tools, addressing issues of consumer engagement, care quality, data privacy and more.
Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina is extending its virtual care platform to offer patients access to a drive-through respiratory specimen collection site to test for COVID-19, according to a March 12 news release.
Throughout the country, hospitals and health systems are vigilantly and creatively working to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. While large health systems such as Intermountain Healthcare and Providence St. Joseph Health have the resources to roll out telehealth services,…
Hartford (Conn.) Healthcare is piloting a drive-through screening center and virtual visit program to help accommodate people who think they may have COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to local news affiliate WFSB.