VA plans to end telehealth copays and fund virtual care access in rural areas

The agency is proposing telehealth access grants to establish fixed, secure environments outfitted with reliable internet and secure video that connect veterans hobbled by the digital divide to health services.
Does more virtual care mean more low-value care? Study suggests no

Before 2024 ends, Congress will decide whether to keep or change rules about telehealth, or let them expire. And even though the decision will focus on Medicare’s payment for virtual patient care, it will likely impact telehealth access for people with other kinds of health insurance too.
Digital health has evolved rapidly, but medical insurance hasn’t kept up

The benefits of connected care and remote patient monitoring have catapulted digital health into mainstream medical offerings, but issues of reimbursement and insurance technicalities are hindering adoption.
Why rural telehealth alone can’t fix care access problems

Without fixing workforce shortages and social determinants issues, rural telehealth’s impact on care access will be limited.
Easing Patient Fears of Radiation Treatment, Via Virtual Reality

For a patient facing radiation therapy for cancer, the process is filled with unknowns. They might wonder about the radiation itself—will it burn? Then there’s the face mask for head and neck cancer patients—will it be tolerable? And those radiation placement tattoos— will they hurt? The uncertainty can be overwhelming for someone already dealing with fear, anxiety, or anger related to their diagnosis and other treatments.
Health care consumers face affordability crisis, seeking tech solutions

Nearly 3 in 10 consumers skip, delay or stop care because they can’t afford it.
Affordability, GenAI top-of-mind for healthcare consumers

GenAI holds promise for ameliorating patient navigation and affordability issues that get in the way of patient care access, healthcare consumers say.
How Mobihealth is driving a telemedicine revolution in Africa

As a child growing up in northern Nigeria, Dr. Funmi Adewara experienced a severe hand injury that required multiple surgeries and frequent hospital visits.
These visits exposed her to the harsh realities of the country’s healthcare system. “I remember sitting in overcrowded waiting rooms, watching doctors stretched thin, unable to meet the needs of so many patients,” Adewara recalls.
Tele-Emergency Care for Veterans Now Available Nationwide

The US Department of Veterans Affairs has announced nationwide availability of tele-emergency care (tele-EC), providing timely virtual emergency care options to veterans and improving access to world-class care.
Can AI power progress with remote patient monitoring technology?

An expert discusses the combination of RPM and artificial intelligence, with examples of how tools are being developed and used today to improve patient access and expand virtual care.