Telehealth Recap - June 2024
It can be hard to stay on top of all the news, trends, technology and insights breaking through in the digital health space. That’s why, while you focus on serving your patients, we do the work for you with a June telehealth recap.
Curious about what’s new in telehealth? Stay up to date on the recent Chevron Deference overruling, Sword Health’s recent $130M funding round, DEA makes second attempt at telehealth prescribing rule, guide to CVOs and more!
🤖Technology, Insights and News
Reports Provided By Caregivers Via Telehealth A Good Alternative To In-Person Developmental Assessments
A study by UC Davis Health and Vanderbilt University Medical Center has found that developmental assessments for autism performed through telehealth may be a good alternative to in-person evaluations. Two components were evaluated in this study; one assessed for autism and the other assessed development in general.
PHTI Conducted An Evaluation Of Virtual Musculoskeletal (MSK) Care Solutions
Based on PHTI’s review of clinical evidence, the virtual MSK solutions assessed in their report deliver clinically meaningful improvements in pain and function compared with usual care (which generally includes physician visits and pain management but not PT) for people with a range of MSK disorders. The assessment also found that physical therapist–guided solutions can be an effective alternative to in-person PT.
⚖️Policy and Regulatory
Drug Enforcement Administration Sends Second Attempt At A Telehealth Prescribing Rule To Executive Budget Office
The DEA’s long awaited second attempt at passing a telemedicine prescribing rule has come to fruition. The rule had been handed off to the Office of Management and Budget for review. This rule continues to be a major issue for telemedicine companies who allow the prescription of controlled substances. And the last time they proposed the rule in March 2023, the organization received 38,000 comments from the public. Mostly about the rule being too restrictive. Read on to learn more about the updated ruling.
Read full FierceHealthcare article here >>
Supreme Court Overrules Chevron Deference, Dealing Blow To Federal Healthcare Agencies
At the end of June, the Supreme Court overruled the Chevron Deference that gave federal agencies the power to interpret and enforce regulations. After the ruling, it’s predicted that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid will be under a microscope from the courts going forward, and there will be more scrutiny towards provider reimbursement cuts, drug pricing regulation and the Inflation Reduction Act.
Read the full FierceHealthcare article here >>
📣Industry Conversations
How Kaiser Keeps Telehealth Alive Despite Industry Decline
Though we’ve seen some decline in telehealth use post-pandemic, Kaiser Permanente's phone and video visit rates remain significantly higher than pre-pandemic levels. Desiree Gandrup-Dupre, senior vice president of care delivery technology services, reveals their major differentiator and offers a key look into their success.
Read full Becker’s Health IT article >>
The Future Of Digital Health: AI's Pivotal Role In Fueling Behavior Change For Better Health Outcomes
AI could change the way consumers seek better health treatments. Traditionally, most seek effortless strategies to achieve their health goals, but the perceived difficulty of programs like meditation (which has shown to improve sleep quality) can be a deterrent. Umashankar Shivanand, Head of Product at SleepScore Labs discusses how AI could help us overcome these barriers and gives tips on how businesses can implement it in this article for Forbes.
Read the full Forbes article here >>
🚀Growth Funding and Innovation
Medical Startup Sword Health Announces AI That Patients Can Talk To
Sword Health announced a new AI solution called Phoenix that can guide patients through its virtual physical therapy sessions. The company helps patients manage pain from home and avoid other higher-risk treatments like opioids and surgery. With this new technology, patients are able to talk directly to Phoenix about how they are feeling, and it can respond, offer feedback and adjust the difficulty and duration of the session in real time.
Read the full CNBC article here >>
Sword Health raises $130M and its valuation soars to $3B
The AI-powered virtual physical therapy startup raised $30 million and let employees sell $100 million worth of equity to new and existing investors, including Khosla Ventures. The round brings the nine-year-old company’s valuation to $3 billion, a 50% increase from the $2 billion value it garnered in its Series D in November 2021. This brings Sword’s total funding to $340 million.
Read the full TechCrunch press release here >>
👉OpenLoop Resources and News
CVO Credentialing: Lowering Cost and Reducing Burden
Provider credentialing can be laborious, but an NCQA-accredited CVO can help you scale your network faster without sacrificing quality care. If you're considering a CVO for your business, this blog identifies the benefits of outsourcing and what that partnership might look like.
Read the full OpenLoop blog here >>
How To Prepare For An NCQA Audit
By adhering to NCQA standards, healthcare companies can better protect their patients, pocketbooks and clinicians. Those wanting to stand out in the healthcare marketplace and demonstrate their commitment to quality should and can apply to become NCQA accredited or certified. We’ll explore the difference between the two and how to prepare for an NCQA audit.