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
Though patients say they want a health care experience that rivals the convenience and service they’ve become accustomed to with eCommerce, they aren’t yet putting their trust in large retailers or technology companies, according to a recent survey by Bright.md,…
In Collaboration with Bright.md
Fueled by rising healthcare costs and a growing shortage of physicians, patients increasingly lack access to medical care. However, emerging digital tools offer healthcare providers an opportunity to improve clinical quality and expand access to care.
While the adoption of telemedicine is growing within healthcare, use of the technology in rural parts of Indiana is limited due to a lack of high-speed internet access, according to a Dec. 3 GovTech report.
Video consultations with a physician may be just as effective for treating patients with neurological disorders than in-person examinations, according to a Dec. 4 evidence review published in the American Academy of Neurology.
University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore and the Tuberous Sclerosis Alliance jointly launched two medical centers that will provide telehealth and in-person care for patients with neurodevelopmental conditions, according to a Dec. 5 news release.
Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health was granted $240,800 to improve telehealth services at seven rural critical access hospitals, according to the Kokomo Tribune.
Here are 10 hospitals and health systems that implemented telehealth technology and services in November:
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs delivered more than 2.6 million episodes of telehealth care in fiscal year 2019, up 17 percent from last year, according to a Nov. 22 news release.
U.S. Department of Agriculture awarded a $234,000 grant to CentraCare to help the St. Cloud, Minn.-based health system establish telemedicine services in rural areas of the state, according to a Dec. 3 news release.
Limited or unclear reimbursement for telehealth and digital services is considered one of the largest barriers of virtual care adoption among hospitals and health systems, according to a recent Foley & Lardner survey.