Given telehealth’s usefulness during the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Congress and administration waived many restrictions, allowing for payment for these increasingly essential services. As outbreaks lessen in some parts of the country, many question whether policymakers should make these changes permanent. GLG spoke with director and COVID-19 Task Force co-leader Sarah-Lloyd Stevenson for insight on the matter.
Stevenson provided an overview of changes in telemedicine since the beginning of the pandemic, along with the benefits for health plans she’s seen as an outcome of these changes.
“Employers definitely see a benefit, for example, if their employees don’t have to leave the workplace for medical appointments,” Stevenson said. “If it keeps employees healthier longer, or keeps them out of the ER, an employer or a health plan can see implicit benefits.”
