Half of physicians now using telehealth as COVID-19 changes practice operations

Close to half of doctors are now using telehealth to treat patients as the COVID-19 pandemic changes practice patterns and how physicians deliver care. That's up from 18% of physicians using telemedicine two years ago, based on The Physicians Foundation’s "2018 Survey of America's Physicians." In this latest physician survey, Merritt Hawkins, a physician search company, found that the use of telemedicine has been rapidly accelerated by the COVID-19 epidemic, which has spurred changes to reimbursement policies that had previously limited its use. In a bid to help support practices, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last month agreed to pay for virtual visits at the same rate as in-person visits while the coronavirus emergency remains in effect. CMS also agreed to pay physicians for patient visits that take place by telephone to help practices stay open by providing them with needed revenue.