Virtual Care

How Payers Can Calm Member Fears, Push Virtual Care Adoption

by Kelsey Waddill

As the healthcare landscape is becoming more digitized, payers can take steps to prevent members from falling back into old, non-digital forms of care, a recent Accenture report highlighted. The...

Top 4 Recent Health Payer Innovative Consolidations, Partnerships

by Kelsey Waddill

Although not as active as prior years due to the coronavirus pandemic, the landscape of payer dealmaking continues to show signs of life through innovative consolidations and partnerships. Payers...

Aetna, Cleveland Clinic Form Low Cost, Narrow Network Health Plan

by Kelsey Waddill

CVS Health’s Aetna has formed a new partnership with Cleveland Clinic which involves a new narrow network health plan and new provider programs, the payer and provider announced. “As part...

How Employers Are Accelerating Virtual Care, Telehealth Adoption

by Kelsey Waddill

Employers are emphasizing virtual care and telehealth in their healthcare benefit and care delivery strategies during the coronavirus pandemic, a recent survey by the Business Group on Health...

Dawn of the Virtual Medicare Advantage Plan from Alignment Health

by Kelsey Waddill

As part of its product and footprint expansion in 2021, Alignment Healthcare (“Alignment”) plans to launch a virtual Medicare Advantage plan, the payer announced on August 6. “Lack...

COVID-19 Waivers Improved Medicare Advantage Telehealth Access

by Kelsey Waddill

Medicare Advantage plans and other stakeholders reported that CMS waivers successfully enabled Medicare and Medicare Advantage telehealth access during the coronavirus pandemic, but several barriers...

Oscar Health Product Gives Members Free Virtual Care, Telehealth

by Kelsey Waddill

Oscar Health has introduced a new insurance product, Virtual Primary Care, that aims to provide members with access to free virtual care and telehealth services. “Virtual Primary Care is the...

Payers Support Dental Partners With Stipends, Boost Teledental Care

by Kelsey Waddill

Payers are supporting struggling dental partners directly through stipends and by covering teledental healthcare options, as in Humana’s recent decision to offer dentists additional funding. In...

Virtual Behavioral Health Visits Improve Care Access

by Emily Sokol, MPH

Behavioral healthcare is in high demand. Nearly one in five Americans have behavioral health needs, according to the American Hospital Association. And yet, fewer than 30 percent of them are receiving...

Tufts Health Expands Telehealth Solution, Boosts Access to Care

by Samantha McGrail

Commercial members of Tufts Health Plan can now access US-based, board-certified providers for medical needs and diagnoses through the expansion of its telehealth virtual healthcare solution, according...

In-Person Care Still Valued in Digital Age, Consumer Survey Finds

by Kelsey Waddill

While virtual care is attractive, patients still value in-person care, according to a consumer survey conducted by Blue Cross Blue Shield Arizona (BCBSAZ) and USC Schaeffer Center. "It's our job...

Wellness Programs Focus on Employee Health, Less on Spending

by Kelsey Waddill

In the face of uncertain data regarding wellness programs’ efficacy and employees’ utilization, employers are revolutionizing their approach to employee wellness programs with an increased...

Using Virtual Wellness Programs to Drive Member Engagement

by Kelsey Waddill

Blue Cross Blue Shield Michigan (BCBSM) is revolutionizing the way they promote wellness among their employer-sponsored health plan members through their virtual wellness program, according to Cindy...

Aetna, Oscar Health Create Provider-Based Health Insurance Plans

by Jesse Migneault

Two new provider-based health insurance plans will be available in 2018, as Aetna and Oscar Health align with Sutter Health and the Cleveland Clinic, respectively, to offer new coverage options for...

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