Journal of Medical Internet Research: Evaluating Clinical Outcomes in Patients Being Treated Exclusively via Telepsychiatry A study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found clinically meaningful changes in one of two validated outcome measures of depression and anxiety: the Patient Health Questionnaire-8 (PHQ8) or the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire-7 (GAD7). Patients were evaluated after receiving at least 8 weeks of treatment at Talkiatry, which provides outpatient telepsychiatry. The study also found an average 7-point reduction in severity scores based on the GAD7 and PHQ8 questionnaires (a 5-point or 50% reduction is clinically significant). Treatment efficacy was also comparable [...]

Bipartisan Policy Center: The Future of Remote Patient Monitoring The Bipartisan Policy Center issued a report on ways to improve the use of remote monitoring services, ensure equitable access to these services across populations, and enhance data security and privacy standards. BPC argues that payers and providers should refine their approach and maximize appropriate adoption for patients who stand to benefit from remote monitoring and makes a number of policy recommendations. The report will be discussed during an event next week.

Nature Mental Health: The Digital Divide in Access to Broadband Internet and Mental Health A study published in Nature Mental Health found that that US counties with low densities of mental health care resources also have a higher percentage of homes without broadband access. There was an average of 7.03 mental healthcare physicians, 10.86 non-physician mental health practitioners, 1.48 psychiatric and substance abuse hospitals, 1.18 inpatient psychiatric and substance abuse treatment facilities, and 12.33 outpatient facilities available per 100,000 members of the population across US counties. However, US counties with low broadband access had reduced densities of mental health [...]

Cure Today: Telemedicine May Help Advance Care Planning in Vulnerable Patients Researchers from University of Pennsylvania found that the rates of advance care planning were no different for patients with cancer who were seen in-person or via telemedicine, posing virtual visits as a viable option for vulnerable populations. Patients seen in person were more likely to have advanced disease than those seen virtually and were also more likely to receive care from a general oncologist. While most telemedicine appointments were conducted via video call, Black and lower income patients more frequently used the phone. The findings suggest that vulnerable [...]

JAMA Network: Increasing Telehealth Access Through Licensure Exceptions Several researchers from Harvard released a viewpoint article on interstate telehealth. The authors explain how exceptions can be used to connect patients via telehealth with a physician in another state, why this is a more practical and effective strategy, and finally what needs to happen for this to be a feasible solution. Many exceptions are limited in scope and use vague language. A set of well-crafted exceptions to physician licensure requirements designed to support interstate telehealth, adopted consistently across the states or at the federal level, would address the current problems. [...]