A web to bed strategy that ties virtual care to location care is the future of healthcare. This strategy ultimately requires that patients, providers, and administrators are empowered with modern technologies that offer best in class capabilities to stay better connected throughout the entirety of a given patient's treatment plan. There are many benefits to a web to bed strategy such as reduced admissions, costs savings, and more efficient methods of care delivery.
In order to accommodate to the needs of a larger aging population group and a shortage of physicians that will make delivering quality care without modern technology difficult the government is taking action to incentivize hospitals, health systems, and provider groups to get ahead of the curve and begin implementing technology to help bridge these care delivery gaps. First it was Meaningful Use in 2011 that offered advanced reimbursements on patient visits that were documented in an electronic health record and now the government through CMS has created new originating site fees/POS codes that allow physicians to be reimbursed at the same rate for a virtual visit as they would be for an in person visit. They've even created new CPT codes such as code 99453 and 99454 that can be billed in conjunction with originating site fees for services such as remote patient monitoring. In addition to CPT codes 99453 and 99454 there were 54 new CPT codes that enable primary care via telehealth.
"This shift will need to be made as the current methods of delivering care are not sustainable, in terms of workers needed, the care that will be demanded by a larger aging population with increased rates of chronic disease, and in overall costs to governments and consumers." - Rachel Hall & Kenny O'Neill