The Tipping Point for Telehealth Initiative: Will it continue after Covid-19

Transforming Safety-Net Patients' Access to Care, During and Beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic

In some ways, access to healthcare improved in the current Covid-19 pandemic.  The pandemic continues to burn in a way through society first in urban areas and now in rural or less populated areas. It now appears that the novel Corona Virus will be with us in the United States during the foreseeable future.

Fortunately, telehealth systems were already in place although very underutilized due to regulatory and user resistance. The concern and likely overload of the primary care system caused an immediate reflexive response to reduce clinic overload and also allow for distancing in the clinic setting. Clinic routines were changed to eliminate waiting inside an office. These changes included online appointment booking, messaging systems that allow patients to wait outside to be called into their appointment. Sanitation measures and personal protective equipment also became a routine process.

These capabilities include phone and video visits, eConsults, text messaging, and more.

Much of this has been possible because the federal government and California, in response to the pandemic, took unprecedented action to loosen restrictions and expand coverage and payment for telehealth services. It is unclear, however, how long these changes will last. Despite enormous progress, much more must be done to ensure that the benefits of telehealth reach populations with low incomes throughout California and to ensure lasting improvements in access to care.

In May 2020, The California Health Care Foundation (CHCF) approved over $6 million to help California reach a tipping point for telehealth in the safety net. This marks CHCF’s single largest investment in close to 15 years of work focused on telehealth.

This page provides an overview of CHCF’s Tipping Point for the Telehealth Initiative and its key partners. Updates on partners, progress, and lessons learned, as well as other resources, will be added over time.

There are organizations operating to enhance continuing growth and also permanency to telehealth far after the pandemic ends.

Connected Care Accelerator

Center for Connected Health Policy.  Informational Webinar

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The Tipping Point for Telehealth Initiative - California Health Care Foundation