Your healthcare provider can contact you over the phone or the computer while you continue to practice social distancing. This limits telehealth’s reach for Medicare beneficiaries without access to smartphones or other video communications. Prior to the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, more than 50 U.S. health systems already had telemedicine programs in place, including large health centers like Cleveland Clinic, Mount Sinai, Jefferson Health, Providence, and Kaiser Permanente. For reprint and licensing requests for this article. Telemedicine is usually defined narrowly by insurers to include technologies like live videoconference and remote patient monitoring, while telehealth is often defined more broadly, to include basic telecommunication tools, as simple as phone calls, text messages, emails, or more sophisticated online health portals that allow patients to communicate with their providers. In response to the novel coronavirus, demand for telemedicine is rapidly increasing. Many states have relaxed telemedicine written consent, licensing, and online prescribing laws, while expanding coverage in Medicaid and fully-insured private plans. For patients utilizing telemedicine during the COVID-19 emergency for non-respiratory complaints, virtual evaluation may prove challenging as well. Clinicians must ensure their malpractice or liability insurance covers telemedicine, and if needed, that it covers services provided across state lines. Of note, state telehealth policies may differ between Medicaid FFS and managed care, an important distinction given most Medicaid beneficiaries are now in managed care plans. CMS has also expanded access to the types of services that made be provided via audio-only telephones. States, health systems, and insurance carriers have also moved with unprecedented speed to shift many visits that were previously done in person to a telemedicine platform. Meredith Freed In the U.S., existing telemedicine platforms like Amwell and UPMC’s virtual urgent care have reported rapid increases in their utilization. This electronic communication means the use of interactive telecommunications equipment that includes, at a minimum, audio and video equipment. Accepting Medicare, Cigna. At-Home SARS-CoV-2 Diagnostic Tests Could be a Breakthrough, But What Are the Limitations? The federal government has taken actions to broaden and facilitate the use of telemedicine, particularly though Medicare. Florida Blue and Prominence Health Plan will waive copays for telehealth if using the Teladoc platform (Appendix). “We believe the future of healthcare is in minimizing the friction between a patient and provider,” Okigwe said in a release. The cost of providing employer-sponsored healthcare in 2019 was around $15,000 per employee, and it’s not expected to decrease in following years — especially with the COVID-19 pandemic taking up so many resources. Employers including Walt Disney Company and Costco cinched the 51-100 spots on Glassdoor’s annual “Best Places to Work” awards. The Physicians at FCPP have been serving the needs of the Orange County area and beyond. Almost all states are moving to temporarily waive out of state licensing requirements, so that providers with equivalent licenses in other states can practice via telehealth. These members now have access to on-demand primary care and EAP services through telemedicine. Potential concerns to this approach include the possibility that protected health information (PHI) that is discussed or sent over a non-HIPAA compliant platform may be accessed, shared or even sold by these platforms. “FCH was built on the promise that a provider-centric model is a better alternative to the fragmented care delivery approach of large national insurers,” said Clyde Walker, First Choice Health board chair, in a statement. During the COVID-19 crisis, ensuring reliable internet connection, and sound and video quality on both the patient and provider end remains important for any telehealth interaction. However, the HHS Office of Inspector General is providing flexibility for providers to reduce or waive cost sharing for telehealth visits during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Importantly, these expanded telehealth services under Medicare are not limited to COVID-19 related services, rather they are available to patients regardless of diagnosis and can be used for regular office visits, mental health counseling, and preventive health screenings. To make an appointment to virtually see one of our providers using the app, call: 860-528-1359. For example, at least 16 states are requiring payment parity for telehealth during the public health emergency. Looking to 2021, First Choice Health CEO Jaja Okigwe says the company plans to focus its energy on telemedicine services, an area where they’ve made significant strides even before the pandemic. Telemedicine growth has been limited by lack of uniform coverage policies across insurers and states, and hurdles to establishing telemedicine in health systems (e.g. If and when the regulatory environment around telehealth and HIPAA becomes more stringent, however, providers will need to decide whether to invest in more robust telemedicine platforms to continue to provide these services. Your PCP should always be your first choice for care (both in-person and virtual visits). In 2020, the company expanded coverage to include more than 55,000 new members across the country. Reach a doctor in minutes for treatment of non-emergency, everyday healthcare issues and feel better fast. 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