The telemedicine revolution: How legislative changes transformed healthcare
The telemedicine revolution: How legislative changes transformed healthcare unknown The telemedicine revolution: How legislative changes transformed healthcare HealthLeaders Media
Jesse Corn, CPO Zivian Health, is a digital health executive and health tech founder with over 14 years of experience in digital solutions.
Telemedicine has emerged as a game-changer in healthcare, as it offers convenient and accessible medical services to patients around the country. Driven by the imperative of the Covid pandemic, over the past three years, legislative changes have played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of telemedicine, making it more accessible and efficient than ever before. Understanding the transformative legislative changes surrounding telemedicine and examining the evolving regulatory landscape is important to understand the changes in U.S. healthcare over the past three years.
The Rise Of Telemedicine
Telemedicine, the use of technology to provide remote healthcare services, has been around for several decades. It was not until recently, however, that it truly gained momentum, largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Healthcare providers, regulators and patients were forced by the pandemic to adapt quickly to new ways of delivering and receiving care.
One of the most significant shifts occurred in the regulatory environment. State and federal governments understood and recognized the need for more accessible healthcare and responded with rapid changes. Telemedicine went from an underutilized secondary option to a primary mode of healthcare delivery.
Key Legislative Changes
• Expansion Of Telehealth Services: Many states, including New York and California, expanded the scope of telehealth services that could be offered. This opened the way for a wider range of medical specialties and services to be provided via telemedicine, including mental health counseling and physical therapy.
• Parity Of Payment: Historically, one of the significant barriers to telemedicine adoption was the lack of reimbursement parity with in-person visits. Many states have passed laws over the past three years requiring insurance companies to reimburse telemedicine services at the same rate as in-person visits. This change in reimbursement served to incentivize healthcare providers to embrace telemedicine.
• Changes In Licensure: New licensure models have been introduced by several states, such as the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which enables healthcare providers to practice across state lines without having to obtain multiple licenses. In conjunction with telemedicine, this has expanded access to care for patients, especially in rural and underserved areas.
• Privacy And Security Regulations: With an increased reliance on telemedicine, issues and concerns regarding patient privacy and data security have also grown. In compliance with laws like HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act), legislators have implemented new regulations to ensure the confidentiality of patients' medical information.
• FDA Regulations: The FDA has adapted to the changing landscape by creating guidelines for the use of remote monitoring devices and telehealth software, improving the safety, efficacy and trust of these technologies.
The Evolving Regulatory Landscape
As telemedicine continues to evolve, the regulatory landscape is in a constant state of flux. Key areas of focus for industry leaders include:
• Compliance With Regulatory Bodies: Staying abreast of legislation, guidelines and regulations set forth by state governments and healthcare regulatory bodies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is incredibly important as it relates to current staff and human resource management. In particular, ensuring compliance within an organization with state and federal licensing requirements for healthcare professionals providing telemedicine services is critical as companies look to operate and scale into new states.
• Technology, Privacy And Security: Working toward standardization of telemedicine technologies and interoperability with existing healthcare systems and software their patients are empowered to access and utilize can help seamless information exchange and improve the overall quality of care. As more patient care moves to virtual, with sensitive patient data being shared, addressing privacy concerns and adhering to data security standards is key to safeguarding this information. Organizations should be motivated to implement robust cybersecurity measures to safeguard patient information and adhere to regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
• Patient Engagement And Education: Promoting patient engagement and education regarding telehealth services will help stratify this method of patient care further. By providing information on how to access and use telemedicine platforms and address any concerns that patients may have, organizations can best educate on outcome expectations, potential risks and any limitations associated with telehealth services.
Conclusion
Legislative changes over the past three years have made healthcare more accessible and convenient for millions of patients via the profound transformation in telemedicine. This is reflective of the ongoing efforts of policymakers to find a way to balance innovation and patient safety while ensuring that telemedicine, just as it was during the pandemic, remains a viable and sustainable option for healthcare delivery.
Healthcare providers, industry leaders and patients must stay engaged and educated with the constantly changing landscape of laws and regulations. We can usher in an era of healthcare that is more accessible, efficient and patient-centered than ever before.
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Jesse Corn, CPO Zivian Health, is a digital health executive and health tech founder with over 14 years of experience in digital solutions.