Logan Lutton

Telehealth Access for America (TAFA) has published the results of a 

 in which 1000 participants were asked about their opinions of telehealth. Positive reviews were overwhelming, with more than 94% of individuals supporting continued access to telehealth services.

“Access to telehealth is vital to achieving better health outcomes, greater health equity, more patient choice, and a more efficient health care system,” said Telehealth Access for America spokesperson Julia Mirich, in a 

 “One of the unfortunate truths about the US health care system is that zip codes determine health outcomes and overall life expectancy.”

Telehealth has become increasingly popular among senior citizens and 87% report a positive experience. Further, 70% of these individuals have previously traveled more than 30 minutes on average to visit their healthcare provider.

“Voters who live long distances from their health care provider demonstrates how critical telehealth is to addressing disparities in the health care system,” Mirich said.

Telehealth protection is also a bipartisan issue. Eighty-eight percent of democrats are in favor as well as 66% of republicans.

Voters from underserved groups such as communities of color and voters who face financial insecurity also favor protections - specifically 86% of Black voters and 82% of Hispanic voters. In addition, 84% of voters in favor are worried about being able to pay health care costs support permanent solutions to protect access.

“Voters believe in the positive impact of telehealth and their broad-based support for permanent solutions to protect access is clear,” Mirich said. “Lawmakers should act swiftly to avert the telehealth cliff through permanent reform that safeguards coverage and flexibility for virtual care.”

More than 8 in 10 voters view the federal government’s decision to lift restrictions on telehealth services during the COVID-19 pandemic as positive (81%). Just 8% have a negative view.

93% of voters agree that patients and consumers should have the choice to see a licensed clinician virtually.

92% of voters believe that Americans should have the choice to access telehealth services after the pandemic ends, regardless of whether they live in a rural or urban area.

78% of voters support the passage of legislation to permanently protect access to telehealth services.

This article was originally published by publication Medical Economics.

Articles

Research shows that telemedicine bridges gaps in healthcare access despite party affiliations.

Widespread Support for Telemedicine Remains, Survey Shows

Most state medical boards are seeing an increase in complaints against physicians for spreading false or misleading information about COVID-19, according to a new survey.

The Federation of State Medical Boards has released the results of their 2021 survey and found that COVID-19 misinformation has affected almost all state medical boards.

67% of boards have experienced an increase in 

 related to licensee dissemination of false or misleading information.

26% of medical boards have made or published statements about the dissemination of false or misleading information.

21% of medical board have taken a disciplinary action against a licensee for disseminating false or misleading information.

“The staggering number of state medical boards that have seen an increase in COVID-19 disinformation complaints is a sign of how widespread the issue has become,” said Humayun J. Chaudhry, DO, MACP, President and CEO of the FSMB, in a 

The FSMB Board of Directors released a statement in July saying that physicians risk disciplinary action if they spread COVID-19 misinformation. Since then, 27 boards have either reported 

 by licensees or taken disciplinary action.

“Physicians who generate and spread COVID-19 vaccine misinformation or disinformation are risking disciplinary action by state medical boards, including the suspension or revocation of their medical license,” the July statement read. “Due to their specialized knowledge and training, licensed physicians possess a high degree of public trust and therefore have a powerful platform in society, whether they recognize it or not. They also have an ethical and professional responsibility to practice medicine in the best interests of their patients and must share information that is factual, scientifically grounded and consensus-driven for the betterment of public health. Spreading inaccurate COVID-19 vaccine information contradicts that responsibility, threatens to further erode public trust in the medical profession and puts all patients at risk.”

In addition, the FSMB Board Ethics and Professionalism Community is currently constructing a policy document that will list the specific guidelines and recommendations when future disinformation is encountered. The FSMB’s House of Delegates is expected to vote on the document in April 2022.

“We are encouraged by the number of boards that have already taken action to combat COVID-19 disinformation by disciplining physicians who engage in that behavior and by reminding all physicians that their words and actions matter.” Chaudhry said. “They should think twice before spreading disinformation that may harm patients.”

This article was originally published by Medical Economics. 

An alarming amount of COVID-19 disinformation is prevalent, even from health care providers. 