{"id":46919,"date":"2021-03-08T04:00:17","date_gmt":"2021-03-08T12:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"\/us\/en\/blog\/?p=46919"},"modified":"2024-07-25T22:57:02","modified_gmt":"2024-07-26T05:57:02","slug":"payers-look-to-telehealth-to-mitigate-rising-healthcare-costs-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/us\/en\/blog\/payers-look-to-telehealth-to-mitigate-rising-healthcare-costs-in-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"Payers look to telehealth to mitigate rising healthcare costs in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2020 was, to say the least, an interesting year for healthcare spending. An unprecedented global healthcare crisis changed healthcare spending patterns. Yet, the addition of telehealth services reduced those costs to an extent.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PwC\u2019s report on medical cost trends in 2020 explores the impact of these costs on payers. Healthcare professionals can reduce some of those costs by using a telehealth communications platform.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>PwC\u2019s predictions about healthcare costs in 2021<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwc.com\/us\/en\/industries\/health-industries\/library\/behind-the-numbers.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PwC\u2019s medical cost trend report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> revealed that employers incurred unplanned costs related to the global health crisis in 2020. Those costs will continue into 2021.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At this point, it\u2019s unclear how much costs will rise for payers. PwC researchers reported it\u2019s possible for healthcare costs to rise anywhere from four to 10%, depending on the effects of the global healthcare crisis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While PwC researchers admit that the costs will be unpredictable, there are some things that became clear even as society was still in the midst of the healthcare crisis. There will be certain costs that will arise, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mental health services\u2014more people are utilizing them as a result of the global situation<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">New specialty drugs\u2014emerging treatments to lengthen patients\u2019 lives are coming onto the market, and healthcare providers are utilizing them to help their patients<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the same time, there are developments that will lead to cost reductions for payers. One significant factor in cost reduction is the increase in telehealth services.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How telehealth services reduce healthcare costs<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/healthpayerintelligence.com\/news\/telehealth-may-help-payers-control-uncertain-healthcare-spending\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Telehealth services<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reduce healthcare costs for two reasons:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They cost less than in-person visits<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are fewer diagnostic tests prescribed than with in-person visits<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How can payers leverage low telehealth costs?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even though there are some rising costs PwC foresees (greater utilization of mental health services and more expensive specialty drugs on the market), payers can leverage lower telehealth costs to save money.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How will that be possible? With the<\/span>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/8-top-drivers-of-telehealth-adoption-in-2020\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">rise of telehealth services in 2020<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, it\u2019s significantly easier for payers to offer those services to healthcare plan members.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><\/p>\n<section class=\"show-demo\">\n<div class=\"title\">\n\t\t\tElevating the member experience\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex-container button-container {{ $description ?: 'spacing' }}\">\n<div class=\"flex-container description\">\n<div>\n\t\t\t\t\tLearn how the right telehealth communications platform can help boost member retention rates.\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"button-wrapper\">\n                                            <button onclick=\"window.open('https:\/\/netstorage.ringcentral.com\/documents\/ringcentral-5-step-guide-to-an-elevated-member-experience.pdf', '_blank'); return false;\" class=\"show-demo-button\" data-dl-name=\"show-demo\" data-dl-element=\"button\" data-dl-additional-info=\"show demo button\" data-no-auto-dl=\"true\">View guide<\/button>\n                                    <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\t<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In fact, there are some specialties that are highly suited for telehealth services, such as mental healthcare. Mental health professionals can deliver therapy remotely through a telehealth communications platform. That way, patients get the therapy they need in a cost-effective way.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What can healthcare providers do to increase telehealth services availability?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To make themselves more attractive partners for healthcare payers, healthcare providers can take steps to offer effective, secure, and affordable telehealth services.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first step is to choose the right telehealth communications platform. The best\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/us\/en\/blog\/healthcare-communication-platform\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">healthcare communications platform<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an integrated suite of collaboration tools, including voice, video meetings, secure messaging, and contact center technology. This technology creates more touchpoints between providers and patients.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-46926\" src=\"\/us\/en\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/03\/ringcentral-payers.jpg\" alt=\"RingCentral for healthcare payers\" width=\"930\" height=\"700\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition, a healthcare communications platform enables providers to deliver telehealth services. Healthcare communications platforms run in the cloud, so providers and their team members can access them from anywhere. That means that providers could see patients remotely.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Healthcare communications platforms allow for continuity of care in a cost-effective and safe manner.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How healthcare communications platforms lower telehealth costs<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For payers, the benefits of healthcare communications platforms are clear\u2014they allow providers to deliver care in a cost-effective manner.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The typical cost of a telehealth visit is\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/www.connectwithcare.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/12\/Medicare-Acute-Care-Telehealth-Feasibility.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">$50<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Conversely, the average weighted cost for care at alternative sites runs payers $176. By covering telehealth services, payers save themselves $126 per visit.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Other benefits of telehealth services<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to lower telehealth costs, there are other benefits for employer payers to telehealth services:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lower absenteeism<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees aren\u2019t exposed to diseases in the waiting room<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employees want telehealth services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Lower absenteeism<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The average wait time to see a doctor is\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"http:\/\/hitconsultant.net\/2015\/10\/09\/in-person-visit-vs-telehealth-visit-time-is-money\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">two hours<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. That includes the time the patient spends commuting to a doctor\u2019s office and waiting for an appointment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Taking time off work to see a doctor costs employees and employers thousands of dollars every year. Telehealth services reduce those costs because an employee doesn\u2019t even have to leave work to have a medical appointment. And after the appointment ends, the employee could go right back to work, saving time and money for the employer.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><b>Employees aren\u2019t exposed to diseases in the waiting room<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Doctor\u2019s waiting rooms can be a hotbed for diseases, some of which can be deadly. An\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2019\/04\/29\/hospitals-and-doctors-offices-are-germ-filled-cesspools\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">April 2019 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found superbugs (bacteria resistant to antibiotics) in the nostrils and on the hands of 14% of patients at two Michigan hospitals, and bacteria residing on a third of the objects touched by patients (including call buttons to summon nurses).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thanks to a global healthcare crisis, we\u2019re more vigilant about sanitation. If there are steps we can take to minimize the spread of viruses, we will. Telehealth reduces the spread of viruses by keeping patients out of waiting rooms, so they can\u2019t catch something and pass it along to their colleagues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Employees want telehealth services<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">People born between 1981 and 1996, known as Millennials, make up\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mcgohanbrabender.com\/5-reasons-consider-telemedicine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">half the American workforce<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Millennials have different preferences and views than their parents and grandparents. One of their strongly held preferences is for telehealth.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medialogic.com\/blog\/healthcare-marketing\/6-key-statistics-millennials-telemedicine\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Almost three-quarters of Millennials<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> would rather have a virtual appointment than go to a provider\u2019s office.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The generation following Millennials, Gen Z, has been even more outspoken in its preferences for telehealth. According to a September 2020 survey, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.beckershospitalreview.com\/consumerism\/41-of-gen-z-and-one-third-of-millennials-prefer-digital-encounters-with-physicians-over-in-person-visits.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">41% of Gen Z<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> members said they would rather have digital or virtual experiences with their physicians.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers can\u2019t ignore these statistics. Gen Z is slowly trickling into the American workforce, and they\u2019ll make up a sizeable demographic when the younger members of their cohort are ready to work. To cater to this demographic, employers should fund telehealth services.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>See lower telehealth costs with RingCentral\u2019s healthcare communications platform<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">RingCentral\u2019s healthcare communications platform allows healthcare providers to deliver telehealth services in a cost-effective, secure manner. Payers can benefit from lower telehealth costs, while healthcare plan members receive excellent care for their conditions.\u00a0<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ringcentral.com\/payers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better healthcare outcomes at a lower cost. Cloud communication systems are transforming healthcare. Find out how.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>2020 was, to say the least, an interesting year for healthcare spending. An unprecedented global healthcare crisis changed healthcare spending patterns. Yet, the addition of telehealth services reduced those costs to an extent. PwC\u2019s report on medical cost trends in 2020 explores the impact of these costs on payers. Healthcare professionals can reduce some of &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":292,"featured_media":46925,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18674,33837],"tags":[1682,25572,33283],"class_list":["post-46919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthcare","category-telehealth","tag-healthcare","tag-telehealth-communications-platform","tag-telehealth-costs"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v19.3 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Payers look to telehealth to mitigate rising healthcare costs in 2021 | RingCentral Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Seek ways to elevate member experience and lower costs with telehealth services from RingCentral. 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