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The critical need for social distancing among physicians and patients will drive unprecedented demand for telehealth, which involves the use of communications systems and networks to enable either a synchronous or asynchronous session between the patient and provider. This report focuses on telehealth services that are gaining momentum among providers and other healthcare stakeholders who are seeking to manage the overwhelming need for COVID-19-related assessments and pathways. Telehealth is not appropriate for all COVID-19 patients, but there is a sizable number who could be examined, treated, and followed up using a mix of virtual visits, remote patient monitoring (RPM) devices, and mobile health services, apps, and wearable devices.

This report reviews the significant drivers that are propelling telehealth. For example, the need to divert a defined patient population away from provider offices and the ER will require the removal of regulatory constraints that would otherwise deny telehealth for some COVID-19 patients. Although it appears that this need is being addressed by the US government, there are concerns among many industry insiders that the various state-level coverage and reimbursement issues, licensure issues, and other factors could still be a challenge.