The development of telehealth services from providers and payers alike has been opening doors to accessible, personalized care, but that investment is a balancing act, said Brett Hart, PhD, chief behavioral health officer at Centene Corp.
Dr. Hart looked across the payer/provider landscape as it relates to virtual behavioral healthcare, noting that about 80 percent of behavioral health being provided is virtual. More than half of the top 10 categories of providers offering telehealth services are for behavioral health.
While eliminating health discrepancies, telehealth may also put strain on providers, puting insurers in a position where they have to juggle the risks and rewards, Dr. Hart said on "Becker's Payer Issues Podcast."
Below is an excerpt from the podcast. Listen to the full interview here.
Dr. Brett Hart: What's exciting is that the shift to telehealth is really enabling a number of promising things. First, it's increasing access to services. It's allowing individuals to receive treatment safely and in the comfort of their own homes. It's extending services to rural and other underserved areas where provider shortages exist. It's removing barriers that can be present with in-person care, such as lack of reliable transportation or securing child care during a visit. And last, I would say it's providing greater access to care for those who are homebound or who may have disabilities.
All that said, though, I think there is a cautionary note we need to heed, and that is that while there's a lot of good we're seeing with the expansion of telebehavioral health, we do have to be certain we're supporting and developing the technology capabilities for individual providers and small group practices to ensure their long-term sustainability. And also being sensitive to the fact that the move to telehealth and virtual treatment may actually increase provider stress. Providers are at greater risk of burnout due to fewer breaks throughout the day for administrative duties or time to decompress. Others may just be struggling with loneliness and disconnectedness from their provider community.