Webinar Recap: Telehealth is Here to Stay––What You Need to Know Now

Telehealth is having its moment in the spotlight, ever since it became a household word during COVID-19. Today, it’s a vital part of how we get our healthcare––and that’s not likely to change.

On Dec. 29, 2022, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 enacted new regulations for virtual healthcare. Medicare telehealth waivers will be extended through 2024. Providers such as physical and occupational therapists are now eligible for reimbursement. And telehealth providers can now bill for audio sessions (i.e., phone calls) and visits conducted from home.

It all points to one thing: telehealth isn’t going away. In fact, states and payers are reimbursing more than ever. That’s good news for consumers, who have largely embraced the trend. In 2022, telehealth accounted for 20% of all healthcare visits. Of those consumers, 67 percent reported increased satisfaction with their healthcare.

How Telehealth Benefits You

Many organizations are using telehealth to drive consumer engagement. But the benefits of virtual care go far beyond that. At Netsmart, we’re seeing savvy providers playing offense and using telehealth to optimize efficiency and address workforce challenges. Consider this:

• Leveraging integrated telehealth helps improve revenue cycle management in cash collections.
• Telehealth allows you to see more clients in more locations, boosting revenue while removing geographic barriers to care.
• Integrating telehealth with your electronic health record (EHR) reduces documentation overload, decreases missed visits with automated reminders, and uses the same workflow you already have.
• Not only is it more efficient, it takes the administrative burden off of your staff.

Case Study: Outreach New York

Outreach New York is a mental health and substance use provider with 10 outpatient facilities in Greater New York City. They offer a robust telehealth program, operated through their Netsmart EHR. Kelsey Silver, Assistant Vice President, Data Analytics, says the organization does 1000 telehealth sessions per month with more than 100 different practitioners. (That’s roughly 230 virtual visits per week at each location.) She also cites a 15% higher show rate for telehealth appointments.

This kind of strategy, which blends high consumer engagement with a reduced burden on your workforce, is the key to success in today’s economy.

Netsmart Telehealth: A Solution for Growth

Many organizations adopted telehealth on the fly during the pandemic, but we’ve learned quite a bit since then. The biggest lesson is that telehealth can lead to organizational growth when integrated into a fully digitized enterprise.

Netsmart Telehealth is fully integrated with our EHR and CareFabric^® solutions. That means you can send and receive signed documents from clients through their CareRecords. Scheduling is done digitally for both in-person and Telehealth visits. In case of a cancellation, a Telehealth link can be sent immediately to individuals on a waiting list.

Less paperwork. More efficiency for front desk and back-office staff. A streamlined user experience that makes healthcare convenient. These are tremendous benefits to your organization’s human resources, and your bottom line. If you haven’t transitioned to an integrated telehealth system like Netsmart Telehealth, now is the time to start. Telehealth is here to stay––and so are the benefits for you.