Pandemic Could Drive Durable Trends in Home Care, Telehealth

The ongoing pandemic has forced the health care system to quickly reorganize care delivery, as payers and providers have worked together to keep low-acuity patients away from hospitals overwhelmed by severe COVID-19 cases. Experts say such changes in health care delivery might become permanent as more consumers are introduced to nontraditional care sites.

Growth in telehealth delivery is well-documented, and during the current public health crisis, most private insurers have expanded access to telehealth, with some waiving related cost sharing. There are signs beneficiaries are taking advantage: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts said it processed 180,000 telehealth visits in March, a 5,100% increase in utilization compared with 2019’s monthly average.

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