Telehealth is solidifying itself on healthcare providers' list of strategic priorities.
Patients are demanding telehealth, largely for the ease of consultations from the comfort of their own homes. According to American Well, 64 percent of Americans would be willing to have an online visit rather than an in-person one.
Providers are responding to this demand, offering video consultations through computers, module kiosks set up at offices and even mHealth apps. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers report found that while 15 percent of clinicians currently offer telehealth services to patients with chronic conditions, 28 percent are considering adding telehealth and similar offerings.
What's more, the federal government has demonstrated its support of such services. In mid-November, CMS released seven new reimbursement codes to cover telehealth. In September, the House introduced a bill that would provide additional incentives for ACOs to expand their telemedicine efforts.
The proliferation of telehealth offerings also means hospitals are adjusting their strategies to include and accommodate such services.
To learn more, join Becker's Hospital Review and American Well for a complimentary webinar on how to transform with telehealth. Click here for more information.
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