Three unanswered questions for telehealth's future

05/14/21 • 13 min

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The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the telehealth landscape. Many physicians and patients had their first experience with a telehealth visit as lockdown measures limited in-person physician offices.

Many questions remain whether the telehealth explosion is a flash-in-the-pan success or if it will have long-lasting changes in patient visit behaviors.

Health Affairs' Chris Fleming and Rob Lott join Health Affairs This Week to discuss a recently published series of blog articles on the topic and unpack the biggest questions regarding the future of telehealth, including:

Should Medicare continue payment parity?
Where does payment reform stand on telehealth?
What are current barriers affecting implementation of telehealth?

Related Links:

The Coming Conflict Over Tele-Visits: The Need For Innovation In Payment And Information Sharing (Health Affairs Blog)
Understanding The Case For Telehealth Payment Parity (Health Affairs Blog)
Congress: Act Now To Ensure Telehealth Access For Medicare Benefits (Health Affairs Blog)
Mutual Recognition Of Physician Licensure By States Would Provide For Better Patient Care (Health Affairs Blog)
How Telehealth Can Enable New Care Management Strategies In Alternative Payment Models (Health Affairs Blog)

The COVID-19 pandemic reshaped the telehealth landscape. Many physicians and patients had their first experience with a telehealth visit as lockdown measures limited in-person physician offices.

Many questions remain whether the telehealth explosion is a flash-in-the-pan success or if it will have long-lasting changes in patient visit behaviors.

Should Medicare continue payment parity?
Where does payment reform stand on telehealth?
What are current barriers affecting implementation of telehealth?

Related Links:

The Coming Conflict Over Tele-Visits: The Need For Innovation In Payment And Information Sharing (Health Affairs Blog)
Understanding The Case For Telehealth Payment Parity (Health Affairs Blog)
Congress: Act Now To Ensure Telehealth Access For Medicare Benefits (Health Affairs Blog)
Mutual Recognition Of Physician Licensure By States Would Provide For Better Patient Care (Health Affairs Blog)
How Telehealth Can Enable New Care Management Strategies In Alternative Payment Models (Health Affairs Blog)

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The next wave of federal food aid for children and families

Last month, the Biden administration unveiled the $1.8 trillion American Families Plan, which includes $45 billion to enrich federal nutrition programs for families and children. The plan builds on the expansion of the Pandemic-EBT program from March 2021.

Research has shown that summer EBT programs decrease food insecurity among children but some children have yet to benefit from the COVID-19 pandemic food aid program due to administrative challenges.

Listen to Health Affairs' Leslie Erdelack and Jessica Bylander discuss food insecurity and President Biden's latest efforts on federal food aid.

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Low-Income Families Left Waiting For Billions In Food Aid As Children Go Hungry (Politico)
The Effect Of Pandemic EBY On Measures Of Food Hardship (Brookings)

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Behind the CDC’s new COVID-19 mask guidelines for those who are fully vaccinated

Last week, the CDC updated its guidance on mask-wearing in public for individuals that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The agency stated, "if you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did prior to the pandemic." That means fully vaccinated individuals can wear masks indoors or outdoors if they choose to.

Unsurprisingly, this guidance was met with controversy.

Some critics felt the guidelines were too abrupt while others questioned if the guidelines hold up principles of health equity. On today's episode of Health Affairs This Week, Health Affairs' Blog Editor Chris Fleming and Director of Equity Vabren Watts review the CDC guidelines and discuss the criticism and remaining questions surrounding the agency's decision.

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