Expanding the telehealth services and maternal care
During the Global Health Equity Week, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) calls on its members to help support two key policy issues. First, is the telehealth flexibility to ensure we give access to care to everyone. And Second, improving maternal health.
HIMSSis urging everyone to contact their policy makers - state governors and senators, to review the policies and ensure we preserve the modernization and flexibilities of virtual care and improve perinatal care through technology systems.
The telehealth flexibilities is about to expire, right after the Public Health Emergency is lifted in the entire country. As it sunsets, all the provisions that were in place in response to the pandemic will also be lifted that is why HIMSSis strongly encouraging its members to connect with their local leaders to extend telehealth services under Medicare at least December 31, 2024. According to Tom Leary, senior vice president and head of government relations at HIMSS
"We have expanded access to care and kept people safe with telehealth services. Unless the Senate acts, we will be forced to go backward to pre-pandemic policies that ignore the innovative telehealth approaches that improve both patient safety and health equity."
The improvements on maternal health through technology will ensure the reduction of maternal mortality especially that CDC data shows 80% of pregnancy-related deaths were preventable. According to HIMSS,
"Specifically, African-American, Alaskan Native, and Indigenous American women are more likely to die from pregnancy-related causes”
Truly, these efforts HIMSS is working on will truly benefit the Americans. We have to appreciate the initiatives of organizations such as HIMSS who continue to fight and champion the needs of society especially on the health aspect.
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