September 2020 Volume 18, Number 9 | |||||
How the Pandemic Could Shape the Future of Health CareThe COVID-19 pandemic has quickly forced the medical community in the United States to rethink how it provides health care. In response to the crisis, new regulations have been enacted and advances in technology fast-tracked. It's expected that many of the changes developed in response to the crisis will have a profound and lasting effect on the future of health care. Here are a few of the changes and trends, good and not so good, that we're already seeing. Broader Acceptance of Telemedicine
Telemedicine is a technology that allows individuals to get professional advice from providers through a smart phone, tablet or computer. When patients were discouraged from visiting doctors' offices during the height of the pandemic, the popularity of telemedicine surged. More Support for Technology Until the pandemic, many smaller health care providers had not been able to afford the laptops, webcams, tablets and video-calling subscriptions. The CARES Act created funds so doctors could buy this technology. Access to Electronic Health Records Improved
The Department of Health and Human Services finalized its rules this year on how patient health data could be easily shared between providers and services — a change which was mandated by the 21st Century Cures Act from 2016. The Decline in the Number of Rural Hospitals The pandemic has not solved all problems though. In fact, it's created some problems for rural hospitals, which have been in danger of closing for about a decade. Chartis Center for Rural Health, a consulting firm, says that 453 rural hospitals — nearly 25 percent in the country — are vulnerable to closing.
Federal officials are recognizing the seriousness of the situation. The Rural Emergency Acute Care Hospital (REACH) Act and, more recently, the CARES Act, have provided some relief to small health care providers. The federal government also recently sent $22 billion to rural hospitals and those hardest hit by COVID-19. |
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Supreme Court Rules for Exemptions in Contraceptive Case Pros and Cons of Employees Working Remotely How the Pandemic Could Shape the Future of Health Care Where the 2020 Presidential Candidates Stand on Health Care Reform Be Prepared: What You Need to Know Before Offering Vision Coverage
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