Posted By Arnav Mathur On March 30, 2022
Inflation and the Need for Telehealth Access
Telehealth access was the safest access to care in the COVID-19 pandemic. Even as COVID-19 vaccination rates and hospitalizations improve, telehealth is not going away. Rising inflation and gas prices due to the pandemic have created limitations on access to care. Let us show you how telehealth access can resolve these current challenges.
How Telehealth Access Mitigates General Inflation
General inflation has had an increase of almost 8% since the start of 2021. The increase in housing prices (renting and buying) and groceries, has jumped dramatically along with it. According to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller US National Home Price Index, home prices increased in 2021 by 18.8%. This is the biggest increase in 34 years. Grocery costs are already up and expected to rise another 6% over the course of 2022.
Telehealth access is a solution to the inflation that has been sweeping the United States. Telehealth visits are often less expensive than in-person visits. Lower prices in healthcare prevent more people from getting priced out of care.
How Telehealth Access Mitigates Rising Gas Prices
Gas prices are currently at an all-time high. The national average price for gas was around $2.796 one year ago, and as of March 2022, it was about $4.252. With rising gas prices spreading throughout the country, it makes a drive into the clinic more costly. Your clients and clinicians who live in rural areas will likely be hit the hardest by this.
Clinicians having the opportunity to work remotely can help with employee retention. If your staff’s salaries are not being adjusted in the immediate term due to rising gas prices, you can at least help them save money.
Telehealth access allows your staff and clients to stay home for any care that can be provided remotely. This allows you to continue access to care that would have been strained or eliminated on either the patient or the clinician side due to rising prices.
How Telehealth Pays for Itself
Rising inflation and gas prices have a negative effect on everybody’s wallets. Having telehealth access allows clients to be billed at a lower rate than an in-person visit. Your clients and clinicians save money on gas, and the money that would’ve been used for gas can be used for other expenses like groceries and housing. Telehealth access definitely helps save money. But how can telehealth access help you net more income?
With telehealth access available, more clients are likely to book appointments, which results in more billing (even if it is at a lower rate). This allows there to be more funding for operations at your clinic which, in turn, allows you to provide care to more of your community members.
What Telehealth Solution is Best for You
Get a telehealth solution that is embedded in your EHR. An integrated telehealth app streamlines your workflow and eliminates juggling another piece of tech. When your telehealth tool and EHR are synced, you can eliminate duplicate entry for encounter notes. Furthermore, a telehealth tool within a HIPAA-compliant EHR will be secure and compliant with the latest standards and requirements. It is often less expensive to have an integrated solution also.
Ask your EHR vendor if they have a telehealth access app for their EHR solution.
About Patagonia Health, Inc.
Patagonia Health is a living Electronic Health Record (EHR) software designed to meet the complex needs and desired health outcomes of Public Health and Behavioral Health organizations. Our federally certified, the easy-to-learn platform includes integrated practice management and billing software so you get one end-to-end solution. Employee-owned and organically grown, our mission is to support your business with software and service that allows you to provide your patients with the care they deserve. If you’d like more information about our solutions, contact us today.