Amazon and several insurers have started or expanded virtual-first care plans to get people to use telemedicine routinely, even for planned visits like annual checkups. Amazon Care pairs patients with a regular care team and in some markets also sends providers like nurses to them if they need in-person care. Another group, early retirees, travels frequently and isn’t able to make it back to Michigan for in-person visits. Stanford University’s Dr Megan Mahoney estimates that about half of primary care visits can be done virtually, depending on whether insurers and other payers reimburse for the care. The family physician says her practice still does 30% to 40% of its visits virtually, months after reopening its offices.

Source: The Star May 02, 2021 13:07 UTC