Question

HHS awarded $15 million dollars to support telehealth activities in the wake of the Coronavirus. (HHS Announcement). In addition, the FCC and others have provided grants and other sources of funding to support the shift to telehealth. There are conflicting reports from Medicare regarding how much they will reimburse for telehealth visits during the pandemic, and what providers say they are actually receiving. In light of the explosion of telehealth right now, discuss the following:

What are some of the issues that providers are experiencing with regard to getting paid for telehealth services vs face-to-face services?

What are some unforeseen obstacles that can occur when we switch to telehealth services from the provider, payer and patient perspective?

How has this aspect of the pandemic changed the delivery of healthcare for the future?

Answer 1

There is a big barrier to the coverage of telehealth is liability.many organizations fear providers to see the new patient, because many medicare patients not seen by the providers and fearful of travel and abuse many providers fear to replaced by larger network practice. In this COVID 19 pandemic many physicians not getting paid for telemedicine visits. many patients in this pandemic forcibly advise to see the providers online, but many providers not getting paid for that or partially paid.
  Medicaid reimbursement policy change from state to state. health care cost, medical error, policy changes cause many providers not properly receive their service costs. government and payers want to constrain the cost, but providers want profit.when telehealth needs to expand it can be fulfilled. there will be a risk of fraud and abuse when we switch to telehealth service from providers, payers and patient perspective. restriction of telehealth coverage to rural population prevent medicare beneficiaries to unable to receive necessary care. there will be lack of incentives for providers due to the traditional reimbursement model. consumer demand made payers to move to telehealth service.
  COVID 19 pandemic changed the delivery of health care for the future. telemedicine protects and empower medical personal there will be a large shift in public health to protect future outbreak. expanding in telemedicine to dramatic shift and expanded care, recovering liability barrier increase production at times of crisis.