This is the first installment of a 10-part blog series that covers key strategies to solidify telemedicine as a key pillar of the healthcare delivery system.
As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, one thing is clear: access to high-quality specialty care must be at the forefront of the collective industry’s efforts to create a more equitable, efficient and patient-centered system. Telemedicine is essential to this mission, creating a comprehensive hybrid model of care that brings together the best of both in-person and virtual healthcare.
Here we’ll cover the first of 10 strategies the healthcare industry should embrace to fully realize telemedicine’s full value for both patients and providers: comprehensive reimbursement policies. The future sustainability and expansion of telemedicine hinge significantly on the establishment of comprehensive reimbursement policies. Consider these eight key steps the healthcare industry should take to improve telemedicine reimbursement, ensuring that telehealth becomes a permanent and integrated component of healthcare delivery.
1. Establish Parity in Reimbursement Rates. To advocate effectively for telemedicine, it’s crucial to push for reimbursement parity. This means that telehealth services should be reimbursed at the same rates as in-person services. By achieving payment parity, healthcare providers are incentivized to offer telemedicine services without financial disadvantage. Several states have already implemented laws to ensure payment parity for telehealth, and this approach should be adopted nationwide.
2. Advocate for Permanent Legislation. To prevent a regression to pre-pandemic policies, it is crucial that we push for these expansions to be codified into permanent law. The temporary nature of the current extensions leaves telemedicine at risk of reverting to more restrictive rules. Advocates should work with policymakers to ensure that the benefits observed during the COVID-19 pandemic become a stable, enduring fixture in our healthcare system.
3. Continue Expanding Covered Services. While the current flexibilities have broadened the scope of covered telemedicine services, there is still room for growth. Expanding the list of covered services to include more preventive health screenings, therapy services, and emergency department visits should be a priority. This would further integrate telemedicine into routine healthcare, making comprehensive care more accessible to all patients as well as Medicare beneficiaries.
4. Expand Provider and Service Accessibility. Legislation should also focus on permanently allowing a wider range of healthcare professionals, including therapists and social workers, to provide telehealth services. Moreover, supporting a wider range of communications tools beyond just those deemed to be HIPAA compliant as well as the continued use of audio-only telehealth services can address accessibility issues, especially for patients without reliable internet access, ensuring that all patients can benefit from telemedicine. These steps are essential for ensuring that the advancements in telemedicine coverage achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic are not lost. By advocating for permanent legislation and continued expansion of covered services, we can solidify telemedicine’s role as a fundamental aspect of healthcare delivery, making healthcare more accessible and efficient for everyone.
5. Address Private Insurer Policies. Similarly, private insurers play a significant role in telemedicine adoption. Efforts should be made to encourage private insurers to also adopt reimbursement parity and expand coverage for telemedicine services. Legislation may be necessary to ensure that all insurers provide comprehensive telehealth coverage, similar to in-person coverage, without restrictive conditions that could hinder access to care.
6. Standardize Reimbursement Across States. Currently, telemedicine reimbursement policies vary significantly between states, leading to a patchwork system that can be confusing for providers and patients alike. A standardized approach to telemedicine reimbursement across all states would alleviate these issues and facilitate a smoother national integration of telehealth services. This standardization could be achieved through federal legislation or through coordinated efforts among states to align their telehealth reimbursement policies.
7. Simplify the Billing and Coding Process. The complexity of billing and coding for telemedicine services can be a significant barrier to its adoption. Simplifying these processes and ensuring that healthcare providers are well-informed about telemedicine coding practices could reduce administrative burdens and make telemedicine more attractive to providers. Educational initiatives and clear guidelines from healthcare authorities can aid in this process.
8. Advocate for Telemedicine in Policy Discussions. Healthcare providers, patients, and telehealth companies should actively participate in policy discussions to ensure that lawmakers clearly understand the benefits of telemedicine. Advocacy efforts should focus on presenting data and case studies that demonstrate the efficacy and cost savings associated with telemedicine, highlighting its potential to improve access to care and patient outcomes.
By following these steps, the healthcare industry can move towards a more equitable and effective system where telemedicine is recognized and reimbursed on par with traditional in-person care. Such changes will not only improve healthcare access but also enhance the overall efficiency of the healthcare system.
At Eagle Telemedicine, we’re actively involved in telemedicine advocacy and helping to guide the healthcare industry to adopt a hybrid care model to increase access to care and improve patient outcomes nationwide. Learn more about what makes Eagle unique here. Then, let’s start a conversation on how Eagle can empower your healthcare organization with virtual care access today.
Related Posts:
Top 5 Telemedicine Trends Hospital Leaders Need to Watch in 2025
Telemedicine: The Hospital Surge Protection Solution
