MN Daily reports on the recent MN Department of Health study on telehealth (I wrote about it earlier too). It is interesting to see what it means for the U of M’s students and healthcare facilities through Boynton…

Associate Director of Mental Health at Boynton Health Cecilia Bloomquist said when she started her career in the psychotherapy field in 2012, telehealth was not widespread until COVID-19.

“The accessibility is incredible,” Bloomquist said. “Because you can expand so many options there. It’s been quite amazing to see this shift.”

Drawz said he noticed an increase in telehealth use from 2015 to 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the trend. Drawz said it was not until then that many healthcare providers saw telehealth as a valid way to provide quick and widespread care.

Bloomquist said Boynton offers telehealth and in-person care for students. Boynton’s primary care team treats a variety of conditions via telehealth alongside mental health therapy and counseling options, group therapy, affinity groups, and psychiatry services, Bloomquist added.

“We actually think about this more case by case,” Bloomquist said. “Providers are making recommendations according to what the person is dealing with and what they have available.”

Drawz said the report shows that telehealth care provides the same quality care as an in-person visit for most individuals. Telehealth can be an accessible option for people who can not physically go to the doctor’s office.

“Some people just can’t get out of their home,” Drawz said. “We do have to pay attention to digital literacy. Not all communities have access to broadband. And so it’s important to keep those things in mind as we advocate for telehealth.”

Bloomquist said she believes telehealth is a highly accessible option for students and providers alike because of its flexibility for busy schedules.

“People really appreciate the opportunity to work in this hybrid model,” Bloomquist said. “It does help providers.”

Devitt said the question for the state legislature is whether telehealth expansion provisions remain and where changes need to be made post-pandemic. Devitt added it is important to be cognizant of how the different types of healthcare insurance — Medicare, Medicaid or commercial insurance — will be also influenced by the federal government’s decisions on telehealth, not just the state’s.

“One of the things that’s going to matter a lot is whether or not telehealth is reimbursable in the metro area after the start of the year at the federal level,” Devitt said. “That’s something in addition going on that just will influence how providers make their choices.”