The healthcare industry has been rapidly digitalizing its services since the start of the pandemic. As more in-person provider appointments become available, many patients would still prefer a telehealth visit, according to a recent study by The Harris Poll.

Accolade, a healthcare technology and benefits firm, plans to buy telemedicine startup PlushCare to begin offering virtual primary care and mental health consultations to its members, the company said April 23. 

Innovative solution will help improve patient access and drive efficiencies in care delivery

The pandemic accelerated a shift to virtual care, shining a light on the potential of this technology to transform care delivery and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, hospitals and health systems raced to figure out how to continue to allow patients access to care. With the pandemic's end getting closer, it leaves many unsure what telehealth services will stick around.

UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum has deployed a new telehealth product across all 50 states, company leaders said April 15.

The FCC will begin accepting applications April 29 for the second round of its COVID-19 telehealth program.

A slew of telehealth companies including SOC Telemed, SteadyMD and Everly Health have hired in-house legal talent during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an April 15 Bloomberg report.

Health insurers Harvard Pilgrim, Kaiser Permanente and Priority Health each launched lower-cost, telehealth-first plans in 2020 and have reported varying rates of adoption, according to an April 15 NEJM Catalyst report. 

Kansas hospitals and physicians are urging state lawmakers to require payers to keep reimbursing telehealth services at the same rate as in-person services even after the pandemic ends, according to an April 13 High Plains Public Radio report.

Small physician practices view the rise in virtual care models, including telemedicine and other remote consultations, as a threat to their business, a new analysis published in the National Library of Medicine suggests.

The FDA is lifting restrictions on dispensing abortion pills by the mail, reversing a long-standing policy that they must be given to patients in person, according to an April 12 Politico article.

Digital healthcare company K Health is launching digital-first healthcare company Hydrogen Health, with funding provided by health insurer Anthem and investment group Blackstone Growth.

Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare plans to bolster its telehealth and digital care services by purchasing Classic Air Medical, an air medical transport company serving patients in eight states, the health system said April 12.

Since launching its telehealth pilot programs in 2013, Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare has expanded its virtual care program across its 25 hospitals and connected with 30 clinical partners.

Despite being designed to offer patients quick and convenient access to care, virtual urgent care visits may actually lead to additional follow-up care in person, according to an April 6 study published in Health Affairs.

CMS recently expanded its list of telehealth services covered during the COVID-19 pandemic to include 24 new audiology and speech-language pathology services.

Before the pandemic, 56.40 percent of Americans did not believe they could receive the same level of care from telehealth compared to in-person care, but recent polling shows 79.85 percent of Americans now say it is possible.

Virtual assistants, which are powered by artificial intelligence and voice technology, can efficiently facilitate healthcare providers' connection and communication with their patients, as well as improve collaboration among the care team. As COVID-19 brought a shift to virtual visits, virtual assistants demonstrated they are essential tools that help patients visualize their data, successfully complete telehealth appointments and maintain quality care.

When the COVID-19 pandemic forced hospitals and health systems to rapidly upscale telemedicine programs, Amy Crawford-Faucher, MD, led Allegheny Health Network's efforts by overhauling and formalizing the idea of therapeutic interventions, she told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.