1. There were more than 200 telehealth-related bills introduced in 42 states in 2015. More than half of the states now have laws that mandate some degree of coverage of telemedicine programs by private payers.
2. There has been a marked increase in consumer investment in personal health and wellness, partly as a cost reduction strategy in light of high-deductible health plans.
3. An increasing number of both big and small employers offered telemedicine as a benefit to employees in 2015 in an effort to reduce healthcare costs and as a means of improving employee health.
4. Telehealth programs of ACOs and CINs improved patient access to care (particularly in the area of behavioral health) and delivered quality care at a lower cost.
5. Last year saw a marked rise in the number of partnerships between U.S. healthcare providers and international institutions for U.S. physicians (particularly in certain orthopedic and oncology subspecialty areas) to provide consultations to international physicians about their patient cases, as well as “second opinion” programs where U.S. physicians review the medical records and diagnostic tests of patients located abroad, and then render a second opinion to that patient.
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