This Is Really Good News But It Is Hardly Digital Health As The ADHA and Others Seem To Think!
We had the news of a six month extension (and a hint of permanency from the Minister) on benefits for telehealth late last week. There is coverage here: Extension great, but make telehealth permanent John Durie · 7:25PM September 18, 2020 Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt ’s welcome extension of telehealth for six months is one step — the more important one is working out how the measure can be made a permanent fixture. The myriad telehealth benefits to patients during the pandemic are known by Hunt to be the platform for a revolution in healthcare that should en sure its continuity after March. Convenience, safety and efficiency are just springboards to the wider digital health revolution. The immediate problem is cost, because during the pandemic 10.5 million patients have undertaken 30.5 million consultations — all bulk-billed on Medicare. The princip le of universal healthcare can’t be touched, so it’s a matter of working through ways...
This is the initial part of the post - read more by clicking on the title of the article. David.
Source: Australian Health Information Technology - Category: Information Technology Authors: Dr David G More MB PhD Source Type: blogs