Telehealth Needs Permanent Payment, Regulation Answers
Telemedicine has become an integral part of the health care delivery system as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but insurers still have to find the answers to important business questions about virtual care. Experts say payers and providers have only just begun the process of determining how much telehealth should be used and how it should be reimbursed.
Determining the appropriate amount of telehealth, the clinical settings where it is appropriate and reimbursement rates for virtual visits will all be critical for plans expanding virtual care. Some plans have announced they will continue reimbursing virtual visits at parity with in-person visits at least through the end of the year, though insiders say that may change in the years to come.