Securing reimbursement, broadband access vital for optimizing telehealth
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Data indicate that access to telehealth is not universal across the United States, according to a presentation at the American Telemedicine Association EDGE Policy Meeting.
Research has shown that some patients lack the resources or technical skills that are necessary to use telehealth. There are also gaps in legislation to support telehealth. At any time, private insurance payers could change telehealth policies that have helped keep many physicians financially afloat during the pandemic, American Telemedicine Association Board Chair Joe Kvedar, MD, told Healio Primary Care.
To ensure all patients and health care professionals can maximize the benefits of telehealth, speakers at ATA’s policy meeting highlighted three factors that are needed to utilize telehealth to its fullest potential.
Legislation that increases broadband access
A recent study showed that 30.1% of health care visits conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic were performed via telehealth. The study authors also found that telehealth visits were less common in rural areas, possibly because of limited broadband access.
To address concerns with broadband availability, Kvedar said the ATA is “advocating strongly” for legislation that will provide universal access across the United States and bridge the digital divide.
However, legislative efforts will require additional support from policymakers, according to Adaeze Enekwechi, PhD, MPP, a health care policy expert and research associate professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University. Congress, she added, cannot be “left off the hook.”
“[Congress] also has a responsibility to respond to the needs of the moment,” she said during the ATA policy meeting. “Often the administration can propose, champion, convene and do a number of other things that are critical, but the linchpin is going to be the legislative effort if we hope to see major changes over time.”
Continued reimbursement for audio-only telehealth
Enekwechi cited data that indicated 40% of Medicare beneficiaries do not have broadband or a smartphone. Other data from a 2017 Pew Research Center report showed that 33% of all Americans and 45% of those in rural areas do not have broadband access at home.
Enekwechi pointed out that telehealth is still primarily conducted through video visits, but in some instances, that mindset needs to change.
“Audio is our one tool to bridge the digital divide,” said Kvedar, who is also senior adviser of virtual care at Massachusetts General Brigham. “Most payers are not looking forward to paying for audio. We feel like strong advocacy for continued reimbursement is needed.”
Enekwechi agreed, adding that physicians can help ease payers’ concerns by providing ATA with data on their telehealth use.
“As we think about the policies to cover telehealth, we should certainly not lose sight of how data from your membership can be helpful and constructive in addressing payer’s concerns with overuse and even fraudulent use,” she said.
Efforts to increase digital literacy
Kvedar noted that ATA is in the early stages of developing ways to increase digital literacy.
Mindful that many other organizations are addressing this same topic, “whether we can do a partnership or contribute in a way that that adds value” to an existing strategy is among ATA’s first considerations in this area, he said.
Reference:
Horrigan JB, Duggan M. Home broadband 2015. Accessed February 4, 2021.