Telehealth makes its big pitch

Telehealth has been a buzzword in the industry for years — and has seemingly had its progress thwarted for about that long by restrictive regulations and a relative lack of insurance coverage. COVID-19 appears to have changed all that in the space of a few weeks. The technology got to flex its capabilities at scale throughout the pandemic, and providers collected data and invested in infrastructure they plan to leverage in future negotiations with insurers and lawmakers as they seek to make telehealth’s dramatic expansion permanent.

The rapid shift to relying on virtual solutions as people isolated in their homes forced the industry to break through multiple barriers that had long held back telehealth’s growth. Greater access to the internet, looser government regulations and broader insurance reimbursements were key factors in the success of the massive ramp-up of telehealth in March. What had formerly seemed like a pipe dream to many in the sector — or at best a mighty long slog — has quickly exploded into a comprehensive delivery platform where spending is predicted to reach $250 billion this year.