HPIO released brief on telehealth in Ohio

The Health Policy Institute of Ohio has released its latest policy brief: “Looking Ahead: Understanding Telehealth in Ohio” (pdf, 18 pages). The brief provides an introduction to telehealth and an overview of the national and state telehealth policy landscape. A 2-page executive summary also is available.

HPIO has focused attention on telehealth as a promising practice that has implications for health outcomes, access and cost.  Specifically, telehealth cuts across two of HPIO’s strategic objectives – ensuring access to care for all Ohioans and aligning public and private payments with better health outcomes.

The exclusion of telehealth services from reimbursement policies in Ohio is perceived to be a barrier to telehealth implementation. Notably, Rep. Anne Gonzales, Chair of the Health & Human Services Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the Health & Aging Committee, and Rep. Lynn Wachtmann , Chair of the Health & Aging Committee, introduced House Bill 123 this week to address reimbursement of telehealth services in Ohio. Cosponsors of the bill include Rep. John Adams, Rep. Andrew Brenner, Rep. Michael Henne, Rep. Jeff McClain, Rep. Sandra Williams and Rep. Ron Young. Sponsor testimony on the bill is scheduled for Wednesday, April 17 (pending referral).

For more information on HPIO’s telehealth work, contact Reem Aly at raly@healthpolicyohio.org.