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Arkansans Have Easier Access to Care Through a New Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) Telehealth Platform

By January 31, 2020September 1st, 2020No Comments

 

Direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth is a quickly growing subsector of telehealth. The appeal is that it taps into one of the overall benefits of a telehealth program: easier access.  “Direct to consumer telehealth, dominated by the for-profit private sector, is the most popular form. Direct to consumer telemedicine is a subset of telehealth that shows promise in increasing access to and engagement in medical care. Quality assurance, reimbursement, and regulatory oversight are important factors in assuring appropriate widespread adoption.” (Elliot, Shuh, 2019)

 

Other than easier access, another benefit of this platform is that it eases the sheer volume of patients seen in ERs, doctor’s offices, and hospitals. “Payers and business owners are on board with the idea as well, and are working with telehealth vendors to create on-demand services for their members and employees.” (Wicklund, 2019)

 

As stated above, many private companies offer this service. Tennessee has DTC telehealth access through VisuWell (among others), and Arkansas and Mississippi currently have access to DTC telehealth services (among others) through a CVS Health program, MinuteClinic. Now, Arkansas has more opportunities for better access to care by the launching of HealthNow through the Institute for Digital Health & Innovation at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). Patients can connect via live video and consult with a healthcare professional in a wide variety of areas. Other providers that offer this service usually use a 3rd party, like the ones mentioned above, but UAMS is offering their providers to directly connect with patients. “Although UAMS already has long provided health care across Arkansas through its Regional Campuses and clinical programs, now that presence is around the clock and able to reach anyone in the state who can connect to the internet,” said UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson,

 

But the low hanging fruit comes with a warning. According to Jay Backstrom, “A lot of people know about it, but they probably don’t know what they should. Don’t lead with it.” And keep in mind, there will be an ebb and a flow to the patient volume. As Peter Antall said: “Utililization takes time.”

 

 

 

 

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30661123

 

https://mhealthintelligence.com/news/direct-to-consumer-telehealth-requires-careful-planning-preparation

 

https://news.uams.edu/2020/01/21/new-uams-healthnow-offers-24-7-digital-health-live-video-access-to-convenient-care/?fbclid=IwAR31YLRzD-hgFhU1Je1F0JFkYGvbvbRL-ZLzWrW0dwUNZPfNwO7_-Umui0s

 

https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2018/jan/14/chattanoogstartbroadens-telehealth-platformwe/461093/

 

https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/Content.aspx?bookid=2217&sectionid=187795446

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Since 2010, the South Central Telehealth Resource Center (SCTRC) has been providing telehealth training and technical assistance. We offer a wide variety of services and resources to help develop, maintain, and expand telehealth services. While we strive to help anyone reaching out to us for assistance, we prioritize the needs of those who work with rural and other underserved communities and populations in our region — Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The SCTRC offers in-person and virtual assistance including on-site demos at our regional telehealth training centers, and popular online resources here such as billing and reimbursement guides, beginner courses, a variety of webinars and recordings, podcasts, and more. The SCTRC team is eager to hear more about your efforts and to brainstorm how we could work together to expand telehealth adoption.

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The South Central Telehealth Resource Center is made possible by Grant #U1UTH42528 from the Office for the Advancement of Telehealth, Health Resources and Services Administration, DHHS, and the support of the UAMS Institute for Digital Health & Innovation. Please note: This information, content, and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. The information and tools presented on the SCTRC website should not be considered legal advice. The SCTRC is not guaranteeing that any information provided will result in reimbursement from a payer. All materials are strictly for informational and educational purposes. The SCTRC encourages you to check with the appropriate state agency for further information and direction for legal opinions, interpretation of the laws, regulations, and/or policies. Additionally, please consult with your legal counsel or attorney if seeking legal opinions. © 2024 Board of Trustees of the University of Arkansas acting for and on behalf of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. All Rights Reserved.