Telemedicine has been pitched as a way to deliver healthcare to people, including those in rural areas. Yet only 10% of Americans have actually used telemedicine for a virtual visit. Dr. Joe Kvedar, president of the American Telemedicine Association, says telemedicine can be used for initial symptom assessment and follow up appointments.
One big hurdle is payment. Currently, Medicare does not always cover virtual visits. On March 3, Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego introduced a bill that would allow Medicaid to cover all COVID-19 related charges, including telemedicine. This bill is part of the larger COVID-19 bill being negotiated in Congress.
Other factors affecting quick adoption of telemedicine are state regulation of medicine, digital infrastructure, and timely access to medical records.