Recent Telehealth Trends, Insights and News - May 2023

It can be hard to stay on top of all the news, trends, technology and insights breaking through in the digital health space. The industry continues to grow faster each day. That’s why, while you focus on serving your patients, we’ll do the work for you with our monthly telehealth recap. 

Curious about what’s new in telemedicine? Stay up to date on the end of the PHE and what it means for telehealth and digital health companies, how AI is changing the way care is delivered, Sanger and Carium’s successful RPM integration and Samsung’s recent focus on sleep health.

Technology, Insights and News

What We’re Reading: AHIP President to Step Down; House Panel Advances PBM Bills; Default Could Stop FDA Reviews

In this roundup by AJMC, get insights into the AHIP President's recent step down and what’s to come next for the organization. The House Energy and Commerce Committee moved ahead a series of health care measures to elevate price transparency and reconstruct regulation of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Drug and device FDA approvals will stop if the US defaults on its debt.

Read the full AJMC roundup here >>

RPM Brings 30-Day Mortality Rate To Almost Zero For Heart Bypass Procedure

Health IT vendor Carium implemented a care experience platform to Sanger Heart and Vascular's Perfect Care program that provides a complete ecosystem for virtual care. Thanks to the program, Sanger was able to reduce readmissions by 40% and reduce average stay to a day. Keep reading to learn more about Sanger and Carium’s successful RPM integration.

Read the full Healthcare IT article here >>

Pharmacy IT DIY: Buy Vs. Build Considerations

To build or to buy? That's the question. See what it takes to build your own pharmacy software and learn whether it's the best move for your organization with this webinar by Becker’s Hospital Review.

Watch the full webinar here >>

Policy and Regulatory Updates

Telehealth Policy Changes After The Covid-19 Public Health Emergency

May saw the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency and with it the end of COVID-era telehealth flexibilities. However, thanks to the Omnibus Bill that was passed in (date) much of the flexibilities will remain until 2024. This informational resource lays out the expected changes to any telehealth policies and/or regulations. 

Read the full HHS article here >>

Industry Conversations

Payers Need Clear Outcomes Data to Reimburse Digital Health, Experts Argue

Services like telehealth and remote patient monitoring have large potential to provide value within the healthcare industry, but hospitals and digital health companies need to show payers clearer evidence of the outcomes these care modalities can produce in order to earn reimbursement. Hear from industry experts by reading the full panel discussion during MedCity's INVEST conference.

Read the full MedCity News article here >>

Growth and Innovation

Medicaid Coverage Linked to Rise in Telehealth Use, Healthcare Access

The rise in telehealth and virtual care can be linked back to Medicaid coverage. Typically, Medicaid beneficiaries face more barriers to care, such as transportation, and as such utilize telehealth at a greater rate than those with private insurers. This article offers deeper analysis into this trend and its secondary outcomes. 

Read full mHealthIntelligence article here >>

Samsung’s Mission To Support Customers’ Quest For Better Health

In the wake of the One UI 5 Watch, Dr. Hon Pak, Vice President and Head of Digital Health Team, Mobile eXperience Business at Samsung Electronics, spoke with Forbes about Samsung’s desire to be a changing force in consumers’ health. The article focuses on holistic sleep care, Samsung’s virtual Sleep Coaching and sleep's connection with chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Read the full Forbes article here >> 

OpenLoop News and Resources

Leveraging Telehealth for Better Care Coordination

Telehealth and telemedicine have revolutionized the way chronic care patients and their care teams interact. Patients dealing with chronic conditions have complex care needs or are at high risk of complications requiring more support and assistance. This blog goes on to discuss how healthcare can leverage telehealth to enhance care coordination with those patients, resulting in improved patient outcomes and a more efficient healthcare system.

Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>

Telehealth Facilitates Better Mental Health Care for LGBTQ+ Youth

The LGBTQ+ community has historically been marginalized and stigmatized in healthcare, leading to the avoidance of care all together. This blog covers how telehealth can become an inclusive mental health platform for LGBTQ+ youth and why telemedicine practices should seriously consider implementing virtual mental health care—if they haven’t already.

Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>

A HIMSS Recap from America’s Favorite Doctor

OpenLoop CMO and America’s Favorite Doctor, Dr. Laura Purdy, shared her takeaways for the 2023 HIMSS conference. Dr. Purdy discusses health innovations, EHR technology and AI’s role within healthcare to relieve provider burdens.

Read full blog here >>