The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has declared a 17 percent jump in telehealth visits as compared to previous fiscal year. VA delivered more than 2.6 million episodes of telehealth care in FY 2019.
Telehealth can provide support to Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program
Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program (MDPP) is not getting a satisfying response so, lawmakers have urged federal officials to add telehealth to the program. A group of 19 senators have addressed a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, asking them to make virtual care part of a Medicare-backed service.
Bill expanding Medicare coverage for telehealth introduced for the third time
The bill that would expand Medicare coverage for telehealth services is being introduced again. Rather it has been done for the third time. A bipartisan group of lawmakers have reintroduced the Creating Opportunities Now for Necessary and Effective Care Technologies (CONNECT) Health Act of 2019 in the U.S. Senate.
Key points about telehealth strategies for the next 3-5 years
Telehealth strategies are being developed to help rural and urban populations to get access to better healthcare facilities. Telehealth can refer to virtual visits and other consumer-facing digital interactions, or remote video consultations between two healthcare providers to share expertise. Patients desire access to telehealth for varied reasons. But in most cases health systems are still trying to understand where it fits into their overall strategy and budget.
Medicare should increase access to telehealth
President Trump signed an Executive Order that outlined measures for Medicare reform specifically telehealth for seniors through network adequacy in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Within one year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has to propose regulations that adjust the network adequacy requirements for MA plans with regards to access to telehealth services.