Mainebiz

V O L . X X V I N O. X X I I S E P T E M B E R 2 1 , 2 0 2 0 18 H E A LT H C A R E / W E L L N E S S F O C U S conditions. ey've used the system to complete more than 3 million self- management tasks. "When we started our business," De says, "we saw that this continu- ous chronic health care management is something that does not exist in our health care system." While the current, fundamentally episodic health care system is premised on doctors seeing patients only when there's a problem, "our premise is that we're going to keep an eye on you when nothing's wrong." Fixing what it sees as a broken chronic system is yielding both medi- cal and monetary benefits for members, in terms of better health outcomes and lower medical costs. at's reflected in a 70% reduction in hospitalizations, a 36% reduction in long-term nursing care and as much as a fourfold increase in the length of time between hospitalizations. Potential to the tune of $250B e telemedicine trend, accelerated by COVID-19, is not limited to Maine, as reflected in data from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. After an average 13,000 tele- health visits a week by Medicare benefi- ciaries before the public health emer- gency, that number was up to 1.7 million by the end of April. It cites early data showing telehealth to be an effective way for people to access health care safely during the pandemic, whether to get a prescription filled, manage chronic con- ditions or get mental health counseling. A report by consulting group McKinsey & Co. published in May shows a similar trend for the broader population. It found that the percentage of U.S. consumers using telehealth has climbed from 11% in 2019 to 46% when the report came out, with providers reporting 50 to 175 times the number of telehealth visits than pre-COVID. Looking ahead, McKinsey analysts estimate that up to $250 billion of cur- rent U.S. health care spending could potentially be done virtually, including close to a quarter of all office visits or outpatient services and 20% of emer- gency department visits. ey also note that the shift will not be inevitable and point to a gap between consumer inter- est and actual usage, driven in part by a lack of awareness of virtual offerings and understanding of insurance coverage. Closer to home, Massachusetts- based nonprofit benefits provider Harvard Pilgrim Health Care reports a dramatic jump in telehealth usage in the four New England states it serves since February, including a 6,817% increase in Maine. Harvard Pilgrim's Bill Whitmore, vice president for the Maine market, says that while the percentage of general office visits by Harvard Pilgrim mem- bers via telehealth have gone down from 70% during the summer peak to around 40% now, the percentage of behavioral health visits has stayed around 80%. "If people are more willing to have a behavioral-type visit telehealth, then maintaining that capacity is critical," he says. But he also points to barriers, including the lack of broadband access in rural areas and the large number of independent and small physicians' offices that may not have the resources to deliver those services like video and computer equipment. "It's not a huge investment, Whitmore says, "but any investment for some of these small practices is not necessarily easy." While regulation often lags technol- ogy, it's moved relatively quickly at state and federal levels during the pandemic with regards to telehealth. Measures include an executive order from Gov. Janet Mills that allows licensed medical professionals greater leeway in provid- ing telehealth services and an order by Eric Cioppa, the state superintendent of insurance, that aligns Maine with federal guidance on insurance coverage and makes telehealth more affordable. On the national front, the federal CARES Act aid package passed in March has eased restrictions on tele- health during COVID-19, helping make the service widely available. "is was a critical step, which helped ensure that patients can access their healthcare providers without tak- ing on extra risk," says U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine. "ese policies made a difference, and there's no reason they have to end when the pandemic does." Even as medical practices reopen and in-person visits pick up, he's confident telehealth is here to stay. "is is anything but a fad," King tells Mainebiz. "It's a real shift in the way » C O N T I N U E D F RO M PA G E 1 6 www.GawronTurgeon.com Schooner Estates Memory Care Home, Auburn READY TO TURN YOUR PASSION INTO A REWARDING CAREER? 1 College Circle, Bangor, ME husson.edu | 207.941.7000 BUSINESS | COMMUNICATIONS | COUNSELING | CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION | HEALTH | PHARMACY | SCIENCE & HUMANITIES | TECHNOLOGY Let Husson help get you there. Since 1898, Husson University has prepared exceptional graduates for professional careers. This is anything but a fad. It's a real shift in the way that Americans access health care with enormous benefits for Maine patients and businesses. — U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine

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