As COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida continue to climb, Tampa (Fla.) General Hospital and USF Health are sending more patients to their joint established telemedicine clinic to free up hospital beds, according to local CBS affiliate WTSP. 

The Federal Communications Commission approved the 14th and final wave of COVID-19 telehealth program applications July 8, granting another $10.73 million to 25 healthcare providers.

Thirty-five senators signed a July 2 letter to HHS and CMS, urging the agencies to release details about its plans for telehealth since regulations were lifted during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Department of Veterans Affairs awarded Philips a 10-year, $100 million contract to expand VA's critical care telehealth program, according to a July 8 news release. 

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced July 2 a new $50 million program to expand broadband internet access for healthcare, education and workforce development across the state, according to Missourinet.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a bill July 6 to permanently expand telehealth coverage and services statewide, according to the Southeast Express.

While telehealth has helped carry out patient care for conditions ranging from diabetes to heart disease during the pandemic, the technology does not always meet the needs of patients equally, according to Dr. Meera Sunder.   

Telehealth claim lines increased by 8,336 percent from April 2019 to April 2020, according to FAIR Health's most recent analysis of healthcare insurance trends.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma reiterated the success of telehealth during the pandemic and said the agency continues to weigh multiple factors when deciding how to implement permanent telehealth coverage and reimbursement rates, including the potential for fraud, during an interview with Business Insider.

After changing policies to cover telehealth more broadly during the pandemic, some insurers are scaling it back even as COVID-19 cases surge in some states, according to USA Today.

Only 31 percent of hospitals and health systems are using capabilities within their EHR systems to conduct telehealth visits, according to a recent Sage Growth Partners report.

Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners is investing in expanded telemedicine and digital capabilities while closing seven clinics and two specialty centers permanently, according to a local ABC affiliate.

Since establishing the Hauser Institute for Health Innovation in June 2019, NewYork-Presbyterian has significantly scaled its telehealth programs and trained thousands of physicians to provide virtual care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FCC approved 70 additional funding applications for the COVID-19 Telehealth Program, providing financial support for healthcare providers to boost telehealth and virtual care services.

Teladoc Health completed its acquisition of telehealth provider InTouch Health on July 1.

The COVID-19 pandemic highlights a large number of opportunities for the future of telehealth. Hospitals and health systems are expanding beyond their traditional four walls and using telemedicine to bridge communications gaps using mobile technology.

While telemedicine has rapidly expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, its effect on patient-physician relationships is not likely to create widespread transformation across the healthcare system, according to David Blumenthal, MD.

he House of Representatives recently introduced the Advancing Telehealth Beyond COVID-19 Act, a bill calling for the permanence of telehealth regulations introduced in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.

The Federal Communications Commission is increasing funding by $197.98 million for its rural healthcare program this year, it said in a June 30 news release.

Duluth, Minn.-based Essentia Health this month received Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota's Trailblazer Award for its efforts to improve virtual care access during the COVID-19 pandemic.