Video Series: Transitioning to telehealth using Elation

Orders to stay at home and maintain social distances from others have forced many independent physicians to adjust their methods of providing healthcare to their patients. Telehealth is becoming more common and more accepted, by physicians, patients, and third-party payers. To help you during these challenging times, Elation Health has created a video series that will enable you to seamlessly and efficiently transition to telehealth throughout the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.

Transitioning to telehealth may be intimidating if you are used to face-to-face visits. You may be concerned about having to learn new technology or to install secure software for televisits. There are other, acceptable options that will enable you to use familiar communication tools and still keep your patient visits confidential. In this video series, we will demonstrate the ease of which you can initiate quality telehealth visits with your patients.

Telehealth is on the rise, in part because of the COVID-19 pandemic. One report shows that:

• The adoption of telemedicine shifted into hyper-drive over the past month, with virtual health-care interactions on pace to top 1 billion by year’s end, according to analysts at Forrester Research.
• March telehealth visits surged 50% amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to research from Frost and Sullivan consultants.
• Analysts now expect general medical care visits to top 200 million this year, up sharply from their original expectation of 36 million visits for all of 2020.

In the telehealth video series, you will learn more about providing healthcare to your patients virtually, keeping them and your practice safe and healthy. Included in the 10-part series is:

• A telehealth visit demo
• Information on how to set up your Elation account for telehealth
• Guidance on how to document and bill for all telehealth visit types

Transitioning to telehealth enables you to continue to deliver care to your patients through the coronavirus outbreak and ensures your practice’s financial stability during the pandemic.

Also, check out Elation Health’s Financial Guide providing help to you and your practice as you deal with the economic effects of COVID-19.

Telehealth services are gaining acceptance by healthcare payers as well. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a new list of services payable under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule when furnished via telehealth. CMS has also issued a fact sheet stating:

• Effective for services starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for Medicare telehealth services furnished to patients in broader circumstances.
• These visits are considered the same as in-person visits and are paid at the same rate as regular, in-person visits.
• Effective for services starting March 6, 2020 and for the duration of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, Medicare will make payment for Medicare telehealth services furnished to beneficiaries in any healthcare facility and in their home.

The telehealth video series and COVID-19 guides are provided to support independent practices throughout the pandemic. Elation Health is focused on strengthening the relationship between patients and providers, and enabling phenomenal care for everyone, whether that care is delivered virtually or in person.