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Telehealth Trends for 2021

The following blog post is republished from Keenan’s sister company, NIS.

Telehealth is dominating the health care sector, and it’s expected that usage will continue to rise. Here are five telehealth trends to watch for in 2021.

Focusing on Mental Health

More than 1 in 5 Americans have a diagnosable mental disorder at some time in their lives but only about half receive professional treatment. It’s partially due to limited specialist availability in a given area. With telehealth, individuals can access mental health resources including professionals no matter where they live. Usage of these types of services are expected to continue to grow in the future.

Patient Utilization

Telehealth usage skyrocketed during the pandemic, and it has made a huge impact on the health care industry. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, nearly half of all Medicare primary care visits in April 2020 were made using telehealth. And even before the pandemic, year-over-year utilization was up 33% in early 2020. In 2018, the telehealth market was worth around $34 billion, and it’s estimated to exceed $185 billion by 2026, according to Fortune Business Insights.

Chronic Care Management

An attractive feature of telemedicine is the lack of waiting rooms or a commute. For those with chronic conditions who need frequent medical care, telehealth is a convenient way to reduce costs while still accessing quality care. As telehealth technology continues, more chronic care patients will likely take advantage of these services.

User Experience

As telehealth usage increases, more competitors will enter the market. Vendors will focus on the user experience as a way to differentiate themselves. Comprehensive services may be consolidated into one portal and includes things like video, chatbots, appointment scheduling, text messaging, etc.

Data Sharing

Telehealth apps may start to integrate with other apps and share data. For example, a fitness app could integrate with a telehealth app – sharing information like heart rate or daily steps. Information like this paired with electronic health records can provide a clearer picture of a patient’s current health. Data integration will likely increase as technology progresses.

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About Aaron A. Casper
Aaron A. Casper, Employee Benefits Consultant at NIS (National Insurance Services), understands the unique way governmental organizations operate, manage risk and develop budgets; hence, he delivers reliable solutions for his clients without short cuts or temporary fixes. Aaron advocates for his clients and prides himself on building authentic relationships, even passing up potential short-term opportunities if it doesn’t make long-term sense for his clients. His straightforward nature, integrity and astute sense of humor are why his customers consider him a valued strategic resource. Aaron Casper is a licensed insurance agent. He specializes in health insurance consulting for Minnesota schools, cities and counties including fully insured, self-insured, and stop-loss plans. Additionally, he has experience implementing OPEB liability reduction strategies as well as ensuring his clients are ACA compliant.