- By 2021, telehealth use was 38 times pre-pandemic levels. It reduced the risk of hospital readmissions by 76% — with patient satisfaction scores topping 90%.
- FDA deregulation of medical devices increases quality, spurs innovation and reduces prices.
- Surprising finding: European markets have gotten freer while American markets have gotten less free.
- Future of the Internet: A study finds that algorithmically targeted advertising performed worse than ads selected at random.
- After election day, marijuana could be legal in five more states.
Category: Telemedicine
Monday Links
- Is watching Fox News bad for your health? (Covid vaccination rates are lower)
- Scott Sumner: the 21st century is suffering from a spate of nationalism.
- Opponents of telemedicine strike back: “Over the past year, nearly 40 states and Washington, D.C., have ended emergency declarations that made it easier for doctors to use video visits to see patients in another state.”
- Study: Too little sleep makes people stingy.
The Pros and Cons of Telemental and Online Mental Health Counseling
Telemedicine got a tremendous boost during Covid when Americans were isolating in their homes and many doctors were afraid to see patients face-to-face. In addition, many people were stressed from social isolation with kids attending schools online while parents tried to work from home. As a result, mental health services also went online. Experts are…
Mental Telehealth Counseling for Diverse Communities
Americans have collectively experienced a mental health crisis due to Covid. Furthermore, some communities have more unmet mental health needs than others. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation:
The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on the nation’s mental health, with 3 in 10 adults in the U.S. reporting symptoms consistent with depression or anxiety disorder since April 2020. Over 20% of adults reporting poor mental health also report not receiving counseling or therapy during the pandemic. Telehealth has played a particularly significant role in meeting the need for mental health services. Thus far into the pandemic, some private payers have improved coverage for mental health and substance use, removing pre-pandemic restrictions on coverage for these services via telehealth.