Technology | 09.01.19
Telemedicine Could Keep Older Patients Out of the Hospital. So Why Hasn't It Taken Off?
by NAMSS Staff
Politico (08/20/19) Ravindranath, Mohana
For years, experts have touted the use of telemedicine as a way to let senior care organizations tap the expertise of physicians to treat their residents for non-emergency problems. Research suggests that about two-thirds of hospital admissions from nursing homes were potentially avoidable, especially if a video visit with a doctor was possible. Experts, though, say there are few business models employing virtual care because payers don't cover it. Since most senior care communities don't keep doctors on-site regularly, the "default is always to send people to the emergency room" when staff are unsure of a patient's condition, observes Tricia Neuman, director of the Kaiser Family Foundation Program on Medicare Policy. Additionally, the senior care market is currently so complex that it's difficult for telemedicine companies to break in. Fortunately, Washington is angling to fix payment barriers. For instance, the Chronic Care Act — part of the 2018 budget agreement — expanded Medicare payments for the virtual treatment of certain conditions like stroke. It also allows Medicare Advantage plans to offer telehealth services as basic benefits. Unfortunately, legislation that could have enabled Medicare reimbursement of virtual emergency medicine in skilled nursing communities has not gained much traction on Capitol Hill.
Read the full article on Politico.