Telehealth News and Market Developments
New York Times: People Can’t Get Their A.D.H.D. Medicine, and That’s a Sign of a Larger Problem (3/25) - Since last August, America has been experiencing a severe shortage of Adderall and related stimulant medications used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. To make matters worse, the D.E.A. announced in February that it wants to end the pandemic-driven relaxation of telehealth rules that currently allow people who take drugs like stimulants and opioid treatment medications to get them regularly without requiring at least one in-person visit. These changes may seem unrelated, but they reflect an approach to drug policy that focuses on controlling supply — one that has backfired in fighting opioid addiction and overdoses and could lead to similar damage to people who use prescription stimulants.
STAT News: I Finally Got Used to Practicing Telepsychiatry (3/24) - In this blog post, Jessica Gold, a psychiatrist, shares her own experience practicing telepsychiatry. Specifically, she highlights that virtual visits have high rates of patient satisfaction, and reduce no-show rates, which can save time and money for both the provider and staff. Dr. Gold also shares her concerns about the in-person visit requirement for a prescription of controlled substances from the DEA's proposed rule.
Health Affairs: DEA Telehealth Proposal Brings Risks, Not Patient Protections (3/23) - You may have missed the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) recent telemedicine proposal. Released on a Friday evening, the proposal aims to reinstate requirements that mental health patients have in-person visits to get prescriptions for certain psychiatric and addiction medications. It’s becoming alarmingly common for government bodies to run interference on decisions between a patient and their doctor. Patients struggling with already stigmatized mental health conditions or addictions are clearly the next target.
Kaiser Health News: Mental Health Care by Video Fills Gaps in Rural Nursing Homes (3/21) - Video visits are an increasingly common way for residents of small-town nursing homes to receive mental health care. Patients don’t have to travel to a clinic. They don’t even have to get cleaned up and leave their bedrooms, which can be daunting for people with depression or anxiety. While use of some other telehealth services may dwindle as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down, providers predict demand for remote mental health services will continue to increase in rural nursing homes. For additional coverage, see McKnights Senior Living.
PR Newswire: Careington Expands Telehealth Programs to Include Virtual Primary Care and Psychiatry (3/21) - Careington International Corporation announced the expansion of telehealth programs offered through affiliate company DialCare to include virtual primary care and psychiatry, virtually connecting individuals to board-certified primary care physicians and psychiatrists nationally. The DialCare Physician Access program includes DialCare Urgent Care, a service offering 24/7/365 video and phone access to licensed physicians for non-emergency care. With the addition of Virtual Primary Care, members can establish a relationship with a dedicated primary care physician for their comprehensive, long-term virtual care of chronic health conditions.
MedCity News: ‘The Stakes Couldn’t Be Higher’: How DEA’s Proposal Will Affect Telehealth Controlled Substance Prescribing (3/21) - The DEA recently released proposed rules that would require an in-person visit before a patient can receive a telehealth prescription for a controlled substance. The DEA touts the change as a way to ensure patient safety, but several telehealth advocates argue it will greatly disrupt access for those who need the drugs — especially at a time when the mental health and substance use crisis is growing.
Healthcare IT News: Telemedicine Will Become Default, With More Virtual Treatments (3/20) - Sean Mehra, CEO and cofounder of HealthTap, a virtual-first urgent care and primary care clinic, predicts the next 10 years of virtual care. Mehra discusses whether virtual-first is the way to go, what the impending end of the public health emergency means for virtual care, how patients implementing technology into their healthcare routines can help and where telehealth will be in five and 10 years.
Becker's Hospital Review: What Health System Digital Executives Expect Next From Best Buy in Health Care (3/20) - Best Buy has begun partnering with hospitals and health systems to treat patients in the comfort of their homes. Through their Current Health partnership, Best Buy can use their technology in newer care models, especially for remote patient monitoring, avoiding the exorbitant costs of hospitals.
The Business Journals: Telehealth Startup Takes Aim at Chronic Allergy Systems with New Service (3/20) - A San Francisco telehealth startup is trying to help chronic seasonal allergy sufferers breathe more easily with customized nasal sprays, and the company has raised new funding. Allermi was founded in 2021 and now has six full-time employees on the operational side, as well as around 20 physicians that are licensed to provide telehealth services in all 50 states. They review intake questionnaires from patients to assess which types of allergy medications should be combined, or compounded, by Allermi's pharmacy partners.
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