Telehealth Utilization: Potential Benefits of Expanded Coverage and Reimbursement

JoAnna Younts discusses the potential benefits of expanded coverage and reimbursement of telehealth.

Telehealth is one of the fastest growing and increasingly debated sectors of the healthcare industry. It is a multibillion-dollar industry with the potential to revolutionize the healthcare system, save payers millions of dollars, and expand high-quality care in remote and underserved areas. Despite these potential benefits, insurance coverage of telemedicine remains fractured, restrictive, and sometimes vague. Even the definitions of “telehealth” and “telemedicine” differ significantly across government entities and private organizations. According to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), “telemedicine” is the “delivery of remote clinical services using technology.” While the ATA uses “telemedicine” and “telehealth” interchangeably, some organizations define “telehealth” to include broader non-clinical services such as consultations and educational programs.