Telehealth

The Federal Communications Commission approved Dec. 21 an additional 68 applicants for funding in its second round of the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, totaling $42.7 million in the round. 

Requiring telehealth reimbursement at the same rates as in-person services will prevent savings for patients, writes Angela Dills, PhD, in The Hill Dec. 21

Many hospitals and health systems had begun forays into telehealth before the COVID-19 pandemic struck. But all were caught off guard by COVID-19 and the drastic and immediate need to implement or scale telehealth.

The share of rural households that interacted with healthcare providers online increased from 34 percent in 2019 to 54 percent in 2021, according to a report released Dec. 16 by Connected Nation, a nonprofit focused on expanding broadband access.

As the COVID-19 pandemic helped spur a boom in telehealth services, some rehabilitation centers also embraced the new format of medicine and are considering using telemedicine in the long term, The Gazette reported Dec. 15.

Telemedicine holds strong potential to democratize healthcare, but its use remains unequal, a Dec. 13 report shows. 

Despite overall satisfaction of consumers with telemedicine, patients were less impressed by the services this year as compared to last, a new report from Rock Health published Dec. 13 reveals. 

Despite a boost in the use of telemedicine during the pandemic, use of the technology still presents challenges, The New York Times reported Dec. 11.

Despite the increase in telehealth use throughout the pandemic, patients and medical professionals alike have voiced concerns about its privacy and safety, a report published Nov. 29 found. 

Three out of every five consumers would opt to find healthcare either online, via an app, or at a clinic versus their traditional health system, according to a new survey commissioned by Bright.md.