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: Source Type: blogs