Telehealth

National use of telehealth services fell by 6.8 percent from September to October 2021, the American Journal of Managed Care reported Jan. 10. 

Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health's telehealth services, which normally cost $49 per visit, are now being offered for free as the health system sees an increase in COVID-19 cases, Wink News reported Jan. 7.

Low-income, non-English-speaking patients of Hispanic and Asian ethnicities may be less likely to use telemedicine, according to a new study published Jan. 5. 

Female, primary care and behavior specialists were more likely to implement virtual care early on during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with male and surgical specialty physicians, a Dec. 30 study published in JAMA Network Open found.

Laws determining telehealth access vary widely across the 50 states, according to a report released Jan. 5 by Reason Foundation, Cicero Institute and Pioneer Institute.

Senior healthcare platform Independa will equip each 2021 and 2022 LG television with a telehealth app and health education platform, The Verge reported Jan. 4.

AT&T will be providing its nationwide Internet-of-Things network to Smart Meter's remote patient monitoring devices.

Replacing and augmenting regular in-person visits with virtual care results in similar health outcomes and patient satisfaction, U.S. News & World Report reported Jan. 3

Onancock, Va.-based Eastern Shore Rural Health is mandating visits by phone or video for people who are experiencing possible COVID-19 symptoms.

The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine in Edinburg has expanded its free telehealth mental health program to nine school districts in the state.