Adoption of Telemedicine and Remote Monitoring ‘Inevitable’
With shifting incentives to a value-based approach, technology like telemedicine becomes a must have solution.
- When it comes to improving the quality and cost of care through technology, telemedicine is one of the most talked about solutions. Through mobile apps, video conferencing and electronic monitoring of biometrics and medication, patients are able to take more control of their care while physicians will have access to more accurate information and answer questions without requiring patients to trek all the way to the hospital or doctor’s office.
In a recent interview with RevCycleIntelligence.com, Mario Gutierrez, the Executive Director of the Center for Connected Health Policy, spoke about the telehealth landscape and offered a behind the scenes peek at his presentation for the 3rd Annual Leadership Summit on Telemedicine and Remote Patient Monitoring Strategies, which be held January 28-29 in Atlanta.
“The shift to telemedicine is inevitable,” Gutierrez said. “This is not a fringe technology, it is very much in the mainstream.”
He added that government incentives are also reversing. Where they once favored the fee-for-service approach, they now put value-based care as a priority, which telemedicine and remote monitoring can play a big part in.
More healthcare outlets are adopting telemedicine practices. It allows for 24/7 access to care, cuts down on the number of visits to the hospital and can be a major benefit in rural areas to keep patients out of the ICU by allowing them to be monitored from home.
According to Gutierrez, the biggest obstacle to the spread of telemedicine technology is a lack of information and the spread of misinformation among not only the general public, but also federal and state government policy makers. This has created public confusion when it comes to the awareness of laws and regulations in every state over what is required to successful implementation and who will bear the financial responsibilities.
“There are individuals in healthcare that are still unaware of the regulations within their own state,” Gutierrez said.
However, the tides are turning. Gutierrez recently spoke at a National Conference of State Legislatures event and said that he received a positive response. He mentioned that more legislators are starting to see the benefits of telehealth technologies.
“The data is there, the information is there. Legislators can no longer use the excuse of bad data in their arguments against telemedicine,” Gutierrez said “Change is coming State to State with leadership. In states where there is real leadership that understands telehealth and see’s the benefit of the technology and can make the case for embracing the technology, you see great change.”
He pointed to California, which has recently created a model statute and has one of the most comprehensive telemedicine platforms in the country. It’s not just bigger states where strong leadership is making a difference as Gutierrez mentioned Mississippi, where officials at the University of Mississippi have partnered with State legislatures to create effective telemedicine regulations in the State.
He mentioned a recent study by the Alliance for Connected Care that found the average estimated cost of a telehealth visit is $40 to $50 per visit, compared to an average of $136 to $176 for in-person acute care. The average number of telehealth visits per patient is 1.3 visits every year. This means that the main average savings would be $126 per commercial telehealth visit.
“In Medicare, where telehealth visits are reimbursed at the same rate as in person care, savings would still be realized from replacing in person care with telehealth visits where appropriate,” the report reads. “In fact, replacing in-person acute care services with telehealth visits reimbursed at the same rate as a doctor’s office visit could save the Medicare program an estimated $45 per visit.”
Gutierrez gave credit to several entities that are helping to spread telemedicine information and use in practices. These include:
Consumer rights groups like AARP and Families USA which are helping to spread awareness of this technology and how it can benefit patients.
Highly competitive entrepreneurs that are ahead of the curve when it comes to mobile applications and other devices, effectively becoming leaders in the industry.
Various associations that are working to create and implement telehealth certifications.
Major retailers like Walgreens and WalMart that are implementing telehealth technologies within their in-store clinics.
