Telehealth

Telehealth is changing care delivery in communities across America.

From emergency department care to remote patient monitoring for chronic care management and access to care from specialists, telehealth is changing the way health care is provided –- both expanding patient access to routine and specialty care while improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Recent years have seen significant growth in the use of telehealth, to the point where more than half of U.S. hospitals connect with patients and consulting practitioners through the use of video and other technology.

However, coverage, payment and other policy issues prevent full use of telehealth, remote patient monitoring and similar technologies. Medicare policy is particularly challenging, as it limits the geographic and practice settings where beneficiaries may receive services, as well as the types of services that may be provided via telehealth and the types of technology that may be used. Access to broadband services and state-level policy issues, such as licensure, also limit the ability to use telehealth.

The AHA supports the expansion of patient access created by hospitals’ efforts to deliver high-quality and innovative telehealth services.

Explore this web page for information on national, state and local activities that affect telehealth and find research that documents the value of telehealth in advancing health in America. We welcome your questions and feedback; email us at telehealth@aha.org.