The use of telecommunication technology for health care — known as telemedicine — has steadily grown over the past decade and its adoption skyrocketed during the COVID-19 crisis, but its post-pandemic future remains in question.
How has this technology and the willingness to adopt it evolved, and how were these services expanded during the pandemic? Are these changes here to stay?
What are the biggest opportunities and challenges related to telemedicine? Who stands to benefit most from its availability? What are the potential implications for overall population health and outcomes, and patient costs? Are there any downsides and if so, are they solvable?
Is telehealth a sustainable business model? Are physicians, insurance companies and regulators on board?
What’s next for telehealth in the U.S. and in Texas? What discussionsare being had and what kind of legislation is being considered at the federal and statelevels, and what more is needed?
Guests:
- Lloyd Doggett, U.S. House Representative for Texas' 35th Congressional District
- Elizabeth Teisberg, Ph.D., executive director of the Value Institute for Health and Care, Cullen Trust for Higher Education Distinguished University Chair in Value-Based Care, and professor in the departments of Medical Education and of Business, Government and Society at the University of Texas at Austin
- Thomas Kim, MD, MPH, chief behavioral health officer for Prism Health North Texas, member of the Texas Medical Association's Council on Legislation and consultant to TMA’s Committee on Health Information Technology
- Nicol Turner Lee, Ph.D., senior fellow in Governance Studies, director of the Center for Technology Innovation and co-editor-in-chief of TechTank at The Brookings Institution
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*This interview was recorded on Tuesday, May 4.