Telehealth can help achieve savings in the Medicare program, according to an actuarial study by Alliance for Connected Care. The study found that 83% of telehealth visits require no additional follow-up care. Replacing in-person acute care services with a telehealth could save the Medicare program $45 per visit. “Reimbursing for telehealth will not increase Medicare expenditures; it will provide an easy alternative for beneficiaries to get quality health care. Telehealth can often replace an in-person visit to the emergency room or urgent care center and resolve the issue so no further care is needed,” said Dale Yamamoto of Red Quill Consulting.
Some Medicare Advantage plans have started offering telehealth services. Most seniors in fee-for-service Medicare lack access to telehealth services because of the restrictions in the Affordable Care Act. Generally, covered telehealth services must be provided in rural areas as determined by the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS). The Alliance says that telehealth can play a critical role in meeting the primary care needs of the incoming influx of Baby Boomers. For more information, visit Alliance for Connected Care.
