July 2, 2020
Dr. Nick M. Spirtos of Las Vegas, director of the Women’s Cancer Center of Nevada, shares the value of telemedicine as we work to overcome COVID-19.
In response to your recent editorial “Once illegal, telemedicine takes off during crisis”: If there’s anything positive to take out of the spread of coronavirus in the United States, it is the value of telehealth services and remote patient monitoring, as more Americans seek access to quality care options that don’t require them to see a provider in-person.
But difficulty in obtaining quality care was a reality in rural areas long before the current public health crisis. Once we slowly begin to recover from the coronavirus, we cannot neglect the need to expand care and services to these areas.
For many who live in rural America, including the outlying parts of Clark County, physically getting to the doctor can be a major factor prohibiting them from receiving necessary care or treatment. Telehealth services, which are now commonly covered by insurers, can fill the gap. Working with providers and insurers to find solutions that deliver quality, affordable care to patients regardless of geography should be a policy priority, and the Legislature should make it easier.
Crises such as the one we currently face often reveal the strengths and weaknesses in our system. In their response, lawmakers, health care providers and insurers all should work together to ensure all patients can access quality care. Read more.
Last year, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, temporarily enhances and expands eligibility premium subsidies to lower monthly health insurance premiums for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace coverage for 2021 and 2022. We asked voters across the country for their opinions on ACA premium subsidies and how Congress should proceed. See what they had to say.
Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) recently joined a roundtable hosted by Oscar Health and Better Care America to discuss social determinants of health impacting New Jersey residents, health equity, and the ACA marketplace.
Rep. Susan Wild (D-PA) recently joined a virtual roundtable conversation hosted by Better Care America and Independence Blue Cross (IBX) to share insights on efforts to address social determinants of health and strategies to better contain the spread of COVID-19 while ensuring access to quality health care coverage.