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The COVID-19 pandemic created many challenges for healthcare providers, including how to safely care for patients with chronic conditions, behavioral health needs and other health concerns. Telehealth—once considered the future of healthcare—emerged as a clear solution.
Early in the pandemic, Governor Pritzker and the Department of Healthcare and Family Services temporarily lifted longstanding barriers to telehealth for commercial health plans and Medicaid. In response, healthcare providers rapidly invested in new technology, adjusted clinical workflows, and educated staff, patients and clinicians on telehealth delivery.
Last April, only 1% of Medicare fee-for-service primary care visits in Illinois were telehealth visits. By July, nearly 47% of those visits were telehealth visits. All demographics—young, diverse, rural and more—have used telehealth. Patients like the flexibility telehealth offers, which is why it’s so crucial telehealth remains a key part of the healthcare delivery system.