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
Terren Peizer, CEO of telehealth company Ontrak, has been indicted for insider trading to avoid millions of dollars in losses, according to a March 1 Justice Department news release.
The "doctor-does-it-all" approach doesn't work for in-person healthcare and isn't effective for telemedicine either, the American Medical Association says.
A new study from virtual health company KeyCare revealed that 68 percent of patients traveling who needed minor but urgent medical care consulted their regular clinicians via telehealth.
Telehealth startup Cerebral is laying off 15 percent of its staff, The Wall Street Journal reported Feb. 27.
The Drug Enforcement Agency has proposed new rules for prescribing controlled substances via telemedicine after the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency expires.
The American Hospital Association is backing legislation that would require the HHS, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission to study the expanded use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telemedicine adoption by Americans has reached 80 percent, becoming the preferred method of prescription care and minor illnesses, according to a Feb. 21 report from Rock Health.
Teladoc said fourth-quarter revenue increased by 15 percent year-over-year to $637.71 million, according to the company's fourth quarter earnings released Feb. 22.
Amwell retained key clients including New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health and payer giant Elevance Health and grew its health system contracts by 13 percent in 2022, the telehealth company said in a fourth-quarter earnings report and call.
Memphis, Tenn.-based Baptist Memorial Health Care launched an emergency services telehealth program for TennCare patients in three rural Tennessee counties, Fox affiliate WHBQ reported Feb. 20.