Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1403978
Time for a Telehealth Check-Up? Start by Calling Your Broker BY JENNIFER NEGLEY, VICE PRESIDENT, RISK STRATEGIES COMPANY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC PROVED TELEHE ALTH IS A VIABLE HE ALTHCARE DELIVERY OPTION FOR PATIENTS AND PR ACTITIONERS. UNDERSTANDING AND PREPARING FOR ITS RISKS WILL ENSURE IT REMAINS A SAFE AND STE ADFA ST SOLUTION. IN THE QUE ST to provide quality medical care during the COVID-19 pandemic, many medical practices quickly shifted to or increased their use of telehealth. While telehealth grew out of financial necessity for practices during the pan- demic, it remains in favor due to its convenience, affordability and efficiency for patients. According to Doximit y 's "2020 State of Telemedicine Report," in 2020, virtual care accounted for more than 20% of all medical visits in the U.S., and is projected to drive $29 billion in total healthcare services. The same study found that up to $106 billion of current healthcare spend could be virtualized by 2023. Patients are largely on board, including both the younger generation, which appreciates the expanded office hours and flexibility telehealth provides, and seniors, who no longer receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement for medical visit transportation. Doximity states that prior to the pandemic, just 14% of Americans had tried telehealth at least once. Since the coronavirus, that number has increased by 57%, and for those with a chronic illness, the number has increased by 77%. With no signs of slowing down, the prognosis for telehealth has never been stronger. For all its benefits, telehealth is not without risk. When patients canceled in-person visits, many states relaxed regulations to help medical practices keep up with demand. Now, these practices are finding it necessary to establish standard practices and protocols to safeguard operations and mitigate malpractice risks. From an insurance standpoint, there are emerging liability exposures that will undoubtedly arise from the COVID-19 pandemic and rapid adoption of telehealth. As states rela xed regulation, so have malpractice carriers regarding their coverage of telehealth. Most, if not all, have now reverted to their original determinants for covering telehealth. If your practice was not approved by your malpractice carrier prior to COVID-19, it's important to ask your broker to confirm whether you are meeting the requirements currently in place to avoid any coverage gaps. Misdiagnosis: In telehealth, misdiagnosis is the biggest mal- practice risk. Virtua l consultations and examinations present challenges in patient communication, reviewing diagnostics and loss of contextual clues that may lead to misdiagnosis. According to CRICO, two-thirds of telemedicine-related claims received between Risk Strategies, National Health Care malpractice team by the numbers: + Supports over 6,000 clients representing over $90,000,000 in physician premiums + Representing every major medical malpractice insurance carrier in the market. In New York, we represent MLMIC, EmPro(PRI), The Doctors Company (TDC), HIC, MedPro RRG, Coverys RRG, ProAssurance RRG, TDC RRG, AMS RRG. + Specialists with over 25 years' experience in medical malpractice insurance + Programs designed for independent physicians and self-insured programs, as well as large practices and hospitals M D N E W S . C O M /// M D N E W S C E N T R A L N E W Y O R K ■ 2 0 21 1 7