Millions Rely on Telehealth Access to Receive Preventive Care, Congress Must Create Permanent Protections.
Telehealth is a vital care avenue for patients and providers, including for preventive care. This is due to the many benefits of telehealth, including convenience and cost-effectiveness, and its rapid growth as a result of pandemic-era flexibilities.
Without the need to travel to attend in-person appointments, telehealth opens doors for millions to receive care who have previously faced barriers, including traditionally underserved populations such as rural communities. Virtual care is also often a lower-cost option, making care accessible across income levels.
One eating disorder specialist said, “Telehealth has increased access to essential care! Telehealth has enabled my services to reach far more individuals, individuals in small corners of my home and neighboring states, who otherwise wouldn’t have had access to an eating disorder dietitian. It has allowed my busy clients to see me during the workday, requiring less time off work to receive services (typically a barrier to care). It’s allowed my physically disabled clients [to] have easy access to ‘my office,’ and for my patients who have experienced trauma, it’s allowed them to remain in the safety of their home when initiating care and speaking with a provider. Patients simply get more good treatment because Telehealth is an option!”
Through preventive telehealth, hospitals are seeing more rapid diagnosis and treatment for behavioral health care, stroke treatment, obesity treatment, cardiovascular monitoring, and women’s preventive health.
Further, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses telehealth programs to deliver preventive care to help improve the health of rural residents. Providers are reporting that telehealth’s increased access can allow for more people to address their care needs, with one South Dakota provider saying, “Telehealth is saving lives in the rural Midwest and to limit or prevent further progress in developing access would be archaic. Over half my clients utilize telehealth, saving families and individuals from the burden of immeasurable barriers to get to a brick-and-mortar building.”
Lawmakers agree, “Telehealth is critical for workers and their families to access the essential health care services they need,” said Senator Cortez Masto “Nevadans should not face barriers when seeking preventive care, and I’ll continue working across the aisle on legislation to protect and increase access to health care in every corner of our state.”
Congress must create lasting protections now to allow patients and providers to have the access to preventive care they need through telehealth.
Learn more about how Congress can act now to safeguard access to telehealth HERE.
ABOUT TELEHEALTH ACCESS FOR AMERICA
Telehealth Access for America (TAFA) is a public education campaign supported by leaders in health care committed to better care, expanded patient choice, and protecting access to critical telehealth services. Learn more at www.telehealthaccessforamerica.org.