By EHR Association SDOH & Health Equity Task Force
Global Health Equity Week, October 23 – 27, 2023, is a week of action that seeks to spotlight the transformative capabilities of health information and technology in reshaping healthcare, reducing health disparities, and improving access to healthcare for all communities. As part of its mission to improve the quality and efficiency of care through innovative, interoperable health IT adoption and use, the EHR Association continues to appeal to lawmakers and national regulators in support of expanding access to telehealth, addressing social determinants of health (SDOH), and increasing interoperability between healthcare providers and community-based organizations (CBOs).
The expanded access to telehealth enabled under the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE) has been transformational and served to engrain virtual care into the nation’s healthcare landscape – improving access and outcomes. Healthcare providers have risen to the challenge of meeting patients’ expectations for telehealth services by making substantial investments into new technologies that have so far carried them through the pandemic.
However, despite ongoing surges and the emergence of new variants, many of the telehealth flexibilities that have helped dramatically improve patient access to care will expire later this year unless the Biden Administration extends the COVID-19 PHE – which must be renewed every 90 days. Should that happen, the impact to public health programs and private healthcare delivery alike will be significant.
Even if the PHE is extended, the uncertainty generated by its temporary nature is impacting all aspects of healthcare.
Even if the PHE is extended, the uncertainty generated by its temporary nature is impacting all aspects of healthcare. Healthcare organizations must decide if they can risk dedicating finite financial resources to maintaining the technological and clinical infrastructure required to continue offering telehealth programs at the level to which patients are now accustomed, when the possibility exists that Congress may ultimately decide against making the changes allowed under the PHE permanent.
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