Health Affairs: Medicare’s Mental Health Problem There is a growing mental health crisis among older adults: 20–30 percent of older adults older than the age of 65 report symptoms of anxiety or depression, and older adults exhibit the highest rate of suicidal ideation of any age group. However, only a fraction of affected Medicare [...]
Drug and Alcohol Dependence: Are Relaxed Telehealth and Take-Home Medication Regulations for Treating Opioid Use Disorder Cost-Effective? A multidisciplinary team of Stanford researchers has found that relaxed guidelines for opioid use disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic were likely not only effective, but cost-effective as well. The authors used a model-based analysis to simulate a [...]
Journal of Climate Change and Health: Pediatric Telemedicine Visits Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions A study found that pediatric telehealth use is linked to a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The study assessed the effects of telehealth use among pediatric patients on travel and, by extension, carbon emissions. University of Virginia School of Medicine researchers [...]
HealthAffairs Scholar: Association of Licensure and Relationship Requirement Waivers for With Out-of-State Telemental Health Care During the COVID-19 public health emergency, states waived in-state licensure and pre-existing patient–physician relationship requirements to increase access to care. This study examined commercially insured individuals in 3 metropolitan statistical areas straddling Illinois and found increased out-of-state telehealth utilization [...]
Elevance Health: Virtual Health Care is Convenient, Accessible, and Recommended by Friends and Family A survey commissioned by Elevance Health found that virtual care is seen as convenient and accessible, especially for those unable to visit a doctor in person for many reasons including lack of transportation or childcare, working several jobs, or a [...]
New England Journal of Medicine: Wearable Digital Health Technology for Epilepsy One third of people with epilepsy have seizures despite medical treatment. The authors examine wearable digital health devices that can detect seizures and how these devices can affect epilepsy care.
The Alliance for Connected Care convened well over 200 organizations on a letter, urging congressional leaders to act on telehealth earlier this year, to allow for implementation time prior to the expiration of statutory restriction on December 31, 2024. Without timely and decisive action from Congress, many Americans risk losing access to telehealth services [...]
SteadyMD: Telemedicine Effective for Chronic Conditions Telehealth is effective for managing patients with chronic conditions while also making it easier for healthcare providers to manage their personal and professional lives, according to the results of a new clinician survey from SteadyMD, a telehealth infrastructure provider that powers healthcare leaders and innovators in all 50 [...]
The Alliance for Connected Care joined over 20 organizations in a stakeholder letter supporting the States Handling Access to Reciprocity for Employment (SHARE) Act (H.R. 1310). The bill would authorize the use of FBI criminal history record information for administration of interstate compacts. Read the letter here or below: [...]
American Journal of Managed Care: Scaling Care Coordination Through Digital Engagement: Stepped-Wedge Trial Assessing Readmissions Transitions of care represent a pivotal time period for patients as they are discharged from the hospital to a home setting. This study examined the usage of postdischarge digital engagement (PDDE) to engage patients during this traditionally risky time period. [...]