By Leslie Small
Promising increased
convenience, better access to care and perhaps even lower costs, telehealth has
been embraced by insurers, employers and health systems alike. But there's also
evidence that not many consumers are taking advantage of virtual care, so some
industry players are trying creative approaches to encourage greater uptake.
One such strategy comes
from Humana Inc., which said in April that it was teaming up with Doctor on
Demand to launch "On Hand," a health plan centered on telehealth.
Members can get care from a dedicated primary care provider and a network of
other providers — all via video visits — for a $0 copay, and there is a $5
copay for labs and prescriptions. The new product, according to Humana
spokesman Marvin Hill, "is the first plan of its kind that uses virtual
visits as the entry point to the health care system."
Another
consumer-engagement strategy comes from telehealth vendor AbleTo, which works
with health plans to identify patients who have both chronic conditions and
unmet behavioral health needs, and then connect them to virtual therapy and
coaching.
New Jersey-based insurer
Horizon Healthcare Services, Inc. recently said it was expanding its
relationship with AbleTo to offer a new program to its managed Medicaid members
that targets unaddressed mental health conditions. Similarly, WellCare Health
Plans, Inc. said on July 11 that it launched a new program, with the help of
AbleTo, aimed at increasing access to behavioral health care for its Medicare
Advantage members in New York who are also battling chronic physical health
conditions.
"Think of our model
as proactive engagement versus what I would say is more traditional
telehealth," says Trip Hofer, CEO of AbleTo, explaining that his team
calls members on behalf of insurers like WellCare to offer them virtual
behavioral health care.
From Health Plan Weekly
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