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Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform found that 40% of all rural hospitals – almost 900 hospitals in total – were at a high or immediate risk of closure, with 25% or more of rural hospitals in 22 states at immediate risk of closure.[1]
Fast forward to 2021. Although the U.S. Congress is working on bipartisan legislation to address the long-acknowledged – and now, with the pandemic, collectively experienced – physician shortage, access to in-person healthcare has reached an all-time low. On January 18, patients and physicians were locked out of Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas, because of the hospital’s past-due rent.[2] A few days later, Santa Cruz Valley Regional Hospital, a hospital located in one of Arizona’s largest retirement communities, was forced to temporarily close its intensive care unit due to the hospital’s inability “to find, at any price, a pulmonologist” during the COVID-19 pandemic.[3]
Dozens of news articles, press releases, and journal manuscripts tout plans for future innovation and claim that we’ve entered a new era of healthcare transformation, but for patients who no longer have a nearby hospital or ICU, the promise of connected care has moved further out of reach. Findings from a February 2021 study by the nonprofit RAND corporation suggest that, should the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) stop reimbursement for audio-only telehealth, low-income patients will be disproportionately affected by and at risk of losing access to primary care and behavioral health. Many underserved patients lack access to the internet or video-enabled devices, and resources to support video telehealth at federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) are limited, creating new barriers to care for low-income patients.[4] With millions of Americans having lost their jobs – and their employer-sponsored health insurance – during the pandemic, postponed preventative care has become commonplace.[5],[6]
So, what should digital health innovators be doing? Innovating as fast as possible. Building technology that moves the conversation on healthcare and health equity beyond fighting for a $110 payment rate for phone calls (a.k.a. audio-only telehealth visits).[7]
What to watch for
Reimbursement for telehealth will change.
Most of the reimbursement and regulatory reform related to telehealth, virtual visits, and remote patient monitoring during the pandemic was implemented on a temporary basis, for the duration of the Public Health Emergency (PHE). Prior to the pandemic, telehealth reimbursement was cautiously implemented and restricted to rural areas and for specific diseases, with private payers and state insurance programs historically following reimbursement changes made by CMS. Whether the PHE remains in effect for 2021 and which reforms CMS and private insurers plan to keep is yet to be seen, though states are already looking to make permanent certain regulations regarding telehealth based on their unique experiences during the PHE. Although Medicaid continues to reimburse for telehealth visits for the duration of the PHE, some private payers have already rolled back coverage.[8]
Patient perspectives on telehealth will inform the paradigm of how we practice medicine.
Where the role of telehealth lands in the long term – whether as a triaging tool to reduce ER visits or a follow-up tool hand-in-hand with remote patient monitoring – is still to be seen. Debate over how to reconcile telehealth services, from substitutes for in-person consults to supplemental virtual communication, with fee-for-service payment models will continue.[9] As providers experiment with best practices to permanently integrate telehealth services in their care delivery systems, the results of multiple survey studies polling thousands of patients are clear: patient experience with telehealth during 2020 was positive overall.[10],[11],[12]
Reimagining remote patient monitoring.
Updates to the Anti-Kickback Statute now allow providers to offer wearable devices to patients for health purposes.[13] Comments submitted on the rule included support from providers[14], and with provider buy-in on issuing wearables to patients, the integration of remote monitoring – and predictive analytics to prevent adverse events – will become more common. Five new current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for remote therapeutics monitoring and treatment management services (989X1, 989X2, 989X3, 989X4, 989X5) were approved and will take effect in January 2022.[15]
Digital health will become more automated and augmented at a pace guided by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
In January, the FDA released its “Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-Based Software as a Medical Device Action Plan.” Among its list of commitments, this first draft regulatory framework includes forthcoming guidance for change control plans for self-learning software during 2021. The plan also aims to develop “methods to evaluate and improve machine learning algorithms” and support “the development of good machine learning practices to evaluate and improve machine learning algorithms” in collaboration with universities and research institutes to address bias and algorithmic responsibility.[16] To top off the list, the FDA is prioritizing a “patient-centered approach, including device transparency to users.” With software vulnerabilities present in 75% of health apps[17], expect medical device and software cybersecurity trends to influence the adoption of platforms and tools.
Patient-centered design will be paramount, and digital health clinical trials will become more widespread.
In February 2020, the FDA held a workshop for patients to share their perspectives on the “Evolving Role of Artificial Intelligence in Radiological Imaging” with product developers. As patients experimented with a range of digital health technologies during the pandemic and are tracking their health with the aid of apps, the potential to increase the diversity of patient perspectives and reduce dataset bias is more promising than ever.[18] Now that patients are actively collaborating in health decision-making with their providers, longitudinal registries that track disease in real-time are possible. The FDA Center for Devices and Radiological Health (CDRH) is also seeking patient input across the digital health product lifecycle and engaging patients to provide patient preference information (PPI) in medical device decision-making and cybersecurity. Another outreach effort by FDA is the CDRH Patient Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC), launched in 2020 to “help assure that the needs and experiences of patients are included as part of the FDA’s deliberations on complex issues involving the regulation of medical devices and their use by patients”.[19] As new technologies blur the distinction between devices, software function, and level of risk, the FDA’s patient engagement strategy is key to developing guidance that can help innovators design the highest-quality digital health tools that reduce health disparities.
While the landscape of legislation and regulatory reform for healthcare – and access to critical utilities like energy and the internet – remains to be determined, one thing is certain: people need reliable access to healthcare. Whatever the “new normal” becomes, a healthier population will be more prepared to take advantage of opportunities to rebuild. “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and digital health in 2021 will surprise us as we adapt and overcome.
Learn more about the digital health ecosystem and some of the real world evidence behind the predictions in the sessions from Digital Medicine Conference 2020. They will be available on demand soon!
NODE.Health Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to education, validation and dissemination of evidence based digital medicine. As the largest professional association in digital medicine, NODE.Health empowers societies, executives and NODES from health systems, payers, life sciences, venture capital, startups and the public sector involved in healthcare digital transformation. NODE.Health does not endorse any specific products or services.
NODE.Health is pleased to cross post this article giving the most up to date predictions for digital health specifically for 2021. NODE.Health encourages its readers to be diligent with understanding the real world evidence behind these predictions. As the adoption of digital health solutions increases, NODE.Health will keep its readers informed about the latest developments. Interested in learning more about the Network of Digital Evidence (NODE.Health)? Click here
References:
[1]“Rural Hospitals at Risk of Closing.” CHQPR.org. January 2021. https://www.chqpr.org/downloads/Rural_Hospitals_at_Risk_of_Closing.pdf (accessed March 2, 2021).
[2]McCord, Cory. “Locked out: Doctors forced to treat patients in parking lot after The Heights Hospital fails to pay rent.” KHOU.com. January 18, 2021. https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/coronavirus/doctors-patients-locked-out-of-heights-hospital/285-4c80da2f-f643-4887-8fed-560f919a9cc6 (accessed March 2, 2021).
[3]Encinas, Jorge. “Green Valley’s hospital temporarily closing ICU; county says it won’t affect virus response.” GVNews.com. January 25, 2021. https://www.gvnews.com/news/green-valleys-hospital-temporarily-closing-icu-county-says-it-wont-affect-virus-response/article_b7ef75d4-5f67-11eb-8e8a-2b5c2de4b698.html (accessed March 2, 2021).
[4]Uscher-Pines, Lori, Sousa, Jessica, Jones, Maggie, et al. “Telehealth Use Among Safety-Net Organizations in California During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” JAMA. February 02, 2021. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776166 (accessed March 2, 2021).
[5]“New Financial Health Pulse Data Shows Millions of Americans Still Financially Struggling Amid Ongoing Pandemic.” Financial Health Network. February 25, 2021.
https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2021/02/25/2182404/0/en/New-Financial-Health-Pulse-Data-Shows-Millions-of-Americans-Still-Financially-Struggling-Amid-Ongoing-Pandemic.html (accessed March 2, 2021).
[6]Kilff, Sarah. “Missed Vaccines, Skipped Colonoscopies: Preventative Care Plummets.” NYTimes.com. September 11, 2020. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/upshot/pandemic-decline-preventive-care.html (accessed March 2, 2021).
[7]“Trump Administration Issues Second Round of Sweeping Changes to Support U.S. Healthcare System during COVID-19 Pandemic.” CMS.gov. April 30, 2020. https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/trump-administration-issues-second-round-sweeping-changes-support-us-healthcare-system-during-covid (accessed March 3, 2021)
[8]Andersen, Eva. “Depressed Americans are starting to lose access to telehealth therapy. Here’s what Congress is doing about it.” WeAreIowa.com. February 23, 2021. https://www.weareiowa.com/video/news/politics/telehealth-access-congress-bills-equal-access-to-care-act-telehealth-modernization-act-treats-act/524-c3c61061-6aac-4802-855f-aec7cc02b9e4 (accessed March 2, 2021).
[9]Berenson, Robert, and Shartzer, Adele. “The Mismatch of Telehealth and Fee-for-Service Payment.” JAMA Health Forum. October 2, 2020. https://jamanetwork.com/channels/health-forum/fullarticle/2771509 (accessed March 2, 2021).
[10]“U.S. Telehealth Satisfaction Study.” JDPower.com October 1, 2020. https://www.jdpower.com/sites/default/files/file/2020-09/2020124%20U.S.%20Telehealth%20Study%20v2.pdf (accessed March 2, 2021).
[11]Ramaswamy, Ashwin, Yu, Miko, Drangsholt, Siri, et al. “Patient Satisfaction with Telemedicine during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Retrospective Cohort Study.” Journal of Medical Internet Research. September 9, 2020. https://www.jmir.org/2020/9/e20786/ (accessed March 2, 2021).
[12]Adams, Katie. “Telehealth patient satisfaction soared in 2020 despite persisting disparities: 6 stats.” BeckersHospitalReview.com October 1, 2020. https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/telehealth/telehealth-patient-satisfaction-soared-in-2020-despite-persisting-disparities-6-stats.html (accessed March 2, 2021).
[13]“The Future is Digital Healthcare.” NatLawReview.com. February 23, 2021. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/future-digital-healthcare (accessed March 2, 2021).
[14]85 FR 77684 (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/12/02/2020-26072/medicare-and-state-health-care-programs-fraud-and-abuse-revisions-to-safe-harbors-under-the )
[15]“October 2020 Summary Panel Actions.” AMA-ASSN.org. November 2020. https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-11/october-2020-summary-panel-actions.pdf (accessed March 2, 2021).
[16] “FDA Releases Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning Action Plan.” FDA.gov. January 12, 2021. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-releases-artificial-intelligencemachine-learning-action-plan (accessed March 2, 2021).
[17]Muncaster, Phil. “Quarter of Healthcare Apps Contain High Severity Bugs.” Infosecurity-magazine.com. March 2, 2021. https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/quarter-healthcare-apps-high/ (accessed March 2, 2021).
[18] “The Future is Digital Healthcare.” NatLawReview.com. February 23, 2021. https://www.natlawreview.com/article/future-digital-healthcare (accessed March 2, 2021).
[19] “CDRG Patient Engagement Advisory Committee.” FDA.gov. https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/cdrh-patient-science-and-engagement-program/cdrh-patient-engagement-advisory-committee (accessed March 2, 2021).
