Kent Manuel, since his cancer diagnosis last year, has been regularly visiting an oncologist near his home in Indianapolis. It’s been a challenging time for him. After undergoing spinal surgery for paralysis caused by cancer, he is now regaining the use of his legs through physical therapy but still relies on a wheelchair.
Recently, Mr. Manuel has been dealing with pain. His oncologist suggested palliative care, a medical specialty that assists individuals with serious illnesses in managing discomfort and distress while maintaining quality of life.
In November, Mr. Manuel, a 72-year-old semiretired accountant, began seeing Dr. Julia Frydman, a palliative care doctor. He stated, “We discuss what works and what doesn’t. She listens to me and is very accommodating.”
While the first two medications prescribed had side effects, the third one seems to be effective in reducing his pain. Although the pain hasn’t completely disappeared, it has lessened.
Dr. Frydman, the senior medical director at Thyme Care, a cancer care technology company in Manhattan, works remotely from hundreds of miles away. To connect with Mr. Manuel, they utilized a video telemedicine link, an option that was previously limited by federal policies before the Covid pandemic.
In 2020, Medicare significantly expanded its telemedicine coverage, a move that has been continuously renewed. That extension was almost jeopardized but was ultimately extended for an additional three months.
Despite the initial uncertainty, telemedicine coverage remains in effect until March 31.
Telemedicine is expected to continue to thrive, with many medical encounters transitioning to virtual platforms. Tricia Neuman from KFF believes that telehealth coverage will remain a viable option for Medicare patients.
Even though telemedicine usage has slightly declined since the initial surge during the pandemic, it still represents a significant increase compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Mr. Zebley and Dr. Neuman both anticipate further extensions of telemedicine coverage due to its bipartisan popularity and the benefits it offers to patients.
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