Leadership | 11.23.21
Telehealth Rollbacks Leave Patients Stranded, Some Doctors Say
by Wall Street Journal
More and more states have been curbing access to telehealth services that were expanded during the COVID-19 crisis, compelling some physicians to lobby for a permanent expansion of remote care that they assert some patients need. Most states over the past couple of years permitted residents to conduct some medical appointments virtually or via telephone, by setting rules that required insurers to pay the same for virtual visits and in-person appointments. During the pandemic, insurers also expanded coverage of telemedicine appointments. A McKinsey & Co. study this past summer showed that demand for telehealth has continued to grow throughout 2021. However, some licensing boards oppose a permanent extension of telehealth services. Two months ago, the Justice Department charged 138 providers in connection with a combined $1.4 billion fraud primarily involving telehealth. A wider embrace of telemedicine could pave the way for further fraud.
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