COVID-19-related telehealth rules for out-of-state providers may lead to unintended consequences such as fraud and limited patient access if made permanent, according to a recent Kaiser Health News analysis.

Hospitals and health systems across the U.S. scurried to launch and expand telehealth programs in March 2020. One year later, telehealth still holds a steady place in healthcare delivery, but its significance in the future is not set in stone.

FCC acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel submitted a proposal this week to launch the second round of the FCC's $250 million COVID-19 telehealth program. 

UnitedHealthcare rolled out a new virtual care option for individuals needing hearing assessments or hearing aids, according to a March 18 news release.

Expanded solution automates pre-visit workflows to drive efficiencies in care delivery

CMS released a notice March 17 walking back four telehealth service codes that the agency said were inadvertently included on its final list because of technical errors. 

Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health recently inked a partnership to integrate Tyto Care's portable patient examination device into the system's virtual care offerings.

Experts have highlighted telehealth's potential to assist rural patients who may not otherwise have conventinet access to healthcare services, but a recent study from nonprofit think tank Rand Corp. reveals urban, affluent Americans utilize telehealth significantly more than the rural population.

Telehealth provider Doctor on Demand and clinical navigation platform Grand Rounds are merging to create a new integrated, multibillion-dollar virtual care company. 

Seventy percent of people have experienced sleep challenges since the start of the pandemic with more than half willing to use telehealth to address those concerns, a Royal Philips study finds.

Fifteen states and the District of Columia have laws requiring health insurers to cover remote patient monitoring services delivered via telehealth technologies, according to a recent report from law firm Foley and Lardner. 

Moving Health Home, a new healthcare coalition formed to expand home-based clinical care, added Amwell to the list of its founding members alongside Amazon Care, Intermountain, Ascension and others. 

Athenahealth on March 9 launched a telehealth insights dashboard to help providers, healthcare leaders and patients examine telehealth adoption rates by specialty area.

Rennova Health terminated discussions with TPT Global Tech March 5 to merge Rennova's software and genetic testing divisions and form a company that would provide telehealth services. 

When the pandemic hit, telehealth was not a vital part of most physician practices.

UnitedHealthcare expects two tools launched during the COVID-19 pandemic to stay post-pandemic, according to a March 2 article published in The Wall Street Journal.

The New York State Department of Health is teaming up with Ro, a direct-to-consumer telehealth app for pharmacy services, to provide eligible residents with COVID-19 vaccines directly in their homes. 

The HHS Office of Inspector General is conducting oversight analysis to assess telehealth services during the COVID-19 public health emergency, including concerns about fraud schemes tied to virtual care. 

Cleveland Clinic received a $2 million donation from superstore chain Meijer to purchase another mobile unit for its school-based healthcare program.

Hospital systems around the country are still managing the effects of COVID-19 and seeking to understand how the pandemic will change the healthcare industry in the future.