Telehealth Research, Reports and Surveys
The Commonwealth Fund: Telemedicine, modernized licensing can help bridge health disparity gap (11/19) – A report by the Commonwealth Fund found pervasive racial and ethnic inequities across health systems in all 50 states. The state-by-state analysis pointed to policy changes that could help bridge the gap, such as policies to help ensure health coverage, reduce administrative burden and improve service delivery – including via telemedicine and licensure modernization. When it comes to improving the delivery of services, one recommendation was to ensure that telemedicine remains an option, as it is an effective strategy for providing patients with convenient access to care. Another recommendation was to modernize medical licensing by allowing health care professionals to more easily practice across state lines.
JAMA Oncology: Evaluation of Telemedicine Use Among US Patients With Newly Diagnosed Cancer by Socioeconomic Status (11/18) – Newly diagnosed cancer patients with high socioeconomic status were more likely to have a telehealth visit in the 30 days following their diagnosis compared to patients with low socioeconomic status, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of Kansas analyzed 16,006 patients who were newly diagnosed with breast, lung, prostate, or colorectal cancer between January 1 and August 31, 2020. Around half of the patients were between 18 and 64 years old while the other half were over 65. Despite telehealth visit volumes rising from 0.4 percent in January to its height of 54 percent in April 2020, telehealth use among the study population was divided based on socioeconomic status.
STAT: A telehealth effort to treat PTSD and bipolar disorder in rural areas showed ‘huge gains.’ Now comes the hard part (11/17) – Over a four-year span, a study led by researchers at the University of Washington sought to deliver treatment to rural patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder, complex diagnoses for which treatment is often located hours away, if it’s accessible at all. The Study to Promote Innovation in Rural Integrated Telepsychiatry, or SPIRIT found a 32% improvement on a scale of mental health functioning, and underscores the potential of technology to address gaps in rural health care.
Cigna/Evernorth: Impact of Behavioral Health Treatment on Total Cost of Care Study (11/16) – New research shows that when people with a diagnosed behavioral condition receive treatment, total health care costs decrease. The analysis revealed that behavioral health treatment in an outpatient setting, such as a psychologist’s office or virtual visits, leads to fewer emergency department visits and inpatient hospitalizations, decreasing costs by up to $1,377 per person in one year and up to $3,109 per person over two years.
GoodRx Health: The State of Telehealth, According to Healthcare Providers and Patients (11/15) – GoodRx Research surveyed over 1,000 patients and over 600 providers during August and September 2021 about their telehealth experiences. In the survey, both providers and consumers said that they valued telehealth and planned to use it in the future. Key takeaways:
- Consumers enjoy the ease of scheduling telehealth visits and plan on using them along with in-person visits
- The COVID-19 pandemic spurred telehealth use, with nearly half of respondents using telehealth for the first time during COVID-19
- More than 60% of respondents plan on using telehealth alongside in-person visits
- Many consumers see no difference between in-person and virtual visits with regards to quality of care, privacy, and cost
- About 40% of consumers interact with providers more because of telehealth
- Virtual visits for mental health care and chronic care treatment grew the most during COVID-19
- Providers see good outcomes for their patients because of telehealth
Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine: Telephone vs. Video Visits During COVID-19: Safety-Net Provider Perspectives (11/12) – Telehealth increased access to care for New York State residents, with most
patients attending audio-only visits compared to video visits. Researchers looked at 36 community health centers in the state and the visits that occurred between February and November 2020. In addition, they conducted interviews with 25 primary care, behavioral health, and pediatric providers from eight community health centers.
JAMA Health Forum: Trends in Outpatient Care and Use of Telemedicine After Hospital Discharge in a Large Commercially Insured Population (11/12) – A recently published study finds
that the number of outpatient visits after hospital discharges remained stable during the COVID-19 pandemic but telehealth use for these visits increased, suggesting that telehealth was a substitute for in-person care rather than an addition
National Institutes of Health: Comparing efficacy of telehealth to in-person mental health care in intensive-treatment-seeking adults (11/3) – Findings from a recent study of patients receiving intensive psychological treatment pre-COVID-19, suggest telehealth as a viable care alternative with no significant differences between in-person and telehealth groups in depressive symptom reduction, and significant increases in self-reported quality of life across both groups.
Center for Connected Health Policy: State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies – At a Glance (Fall 2021) – The Center for Connected Health Policy (CCHP) released its fall 2021 State Telehealth Laws and Reimbursement Policies At a Glance document, which highlighted several trends in telehealth at the state level over the last several months. All 50 states and DC now reimburse for some type of live video telehealth services in Medicaid. Also of note is that 12 states issue special licenses or certificates, or have a telehealth specific exception for out-of-state licensed providers. This includes Arizona and Florida through their respective registration processes for out-of-state providers that would like to provide telehealth services in the state.
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